South Africa built a commanding 480-run lead over India by stumps on day two of the second Test in Guwahati, having been propelled by Senuran Muthusamy's first red-ball century.

The Proteas, who are looking to win back-to-back Tests on Indian soil for the first time since 2000, were all out for 489 – no team has ever lost a red-ball match in India after achieving such a score.

Things could have gone either way when the tourists resumed at 247-6 on Sunday, but Muthusamy (109) and Kyle Verreynne (45) put on an 88-run stand before Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant combined to stump the latter.

Muthusamy was then joined at the crease by Marco Jansen, with a batter-friendly pitch helping them put on another productive partnership – this one for 97 runs.

Muthusamy brought up his maiden Test century when he came back for two off Mohammed Siraj's bowling, then thumped a big four – his 10th of the innings – to celebrate. 

He was eventually caught out by Siraj's short ball, handing Yashasvi Jaiswal a simple catch near the ropes, though Jansen continued to plug away, outlasting Simon Harmer (5) before falling to Kuldeep Yadav for 93, for the final wicket of the day.

India got 30 minutes at the crease before bad light stopped play, with Jaiswal (7 not out) and KL Rahul (2) helping them to 9-0, but they face an uphill task to draw the series from here.

2 - With his 109 today, Senuran Muthusamy became just the second @ProteasMenCSA batter to score a Test hundred in India while batting at No.7 or below (also Quinton de Kock - 111 at Visakhapatnam in October 2019). Revival.#INDvSA #WTC27 pic.twitter.com/qdIpGYQWJi

— OptaJeev (@OptaJeev) November 23, 2025

Data Debrief: Muthusamy keeps tourists ticking over

Muthusamy's century was his first in cricket's longest format, with his previous high score being an unbeaten knock of 89 in Pakistan in October.

He faced 206 balls across Saturday and Sunday, with his longevity helping India to last 151.1 overs in their first innings – more than the entire first Ashes Test between Australia and England lasted (141.1 overs).

He is just the second South Africa batter to score a Test hundred in India while batting at number seven or below, after Quinton de Kock (111 at Visakhapatnam in October 2019).