India crumble at home as South Africa seal first Test series win in 24 years

Indian Test Cricket team has had a forgetful 2025, with the end more damaging and in front of a home crowd. South Africa tightened its grip on the second Test of the Freedom Trophy which concluded Wednesday, since the start and registered its first Test series win on Indian soil since 2000–01.

The visitors, who won the Kolkata opener by 30 runs, lead the two-match series and now closed it 2-0, beating India by 408 runs.

In the fourth innings, needing 549 runs for victory and India were still trailing by 459 by the first tea interval. The collapse continued through the morning session. India captain and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who walked in at 42–4, fell for 13 after edging to slip off Simon Harmer in the 32nd over. Harmer added pressure from the start of play with an unforgiving spell of off-spin.

Harmer runs through Indian line-up

Harmer ignited India’s slide in the eighth over of the day, bowling night-watchman Kuldeep Yadav for five off 38 balls. He struck again in the 24th over when the ball skidded and kept low to remove Yadav. Three balls later, Dhruv Jurel edged to slip and was dismissed for two. Harmer now has four of India’s five wickets in the second innings.

Tuesday’s final session already placed India on the back foot at 27–2. Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught behind for 13, while Lokesh Rahul was bowled for six.

South Africa seized control on Day 3 when Marco Jansen took 6–48 to bowl India out for 201, securing a 314-run first-innings advantage after the visitors posted 489.

India vs South Africa Test series history