South Africa Deliver a Masterclass, India Slip Down WTC Standings

South Africa secured a rare and consequential Test series victory in India, completing a 2-0 sweep that reshaped the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 standings and delivered the hosts their heaviest defeat by margin of runs in Test cricket. 

The win, sealed with a 408-run margin in Guwahati, marks only the second time South Africa have claimed a Test series on Indian soil since their first success in 2000.

In a country where visiting teams rarely walk out smiling, the Proteas carved out only their second Test series win on Indian soil, a result that shakes up the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 landscape and signals a team rising with purpose.

India’s 408-run defeat was not only decisive, it was historic — their heaviest loss by margin of runs in Test cricket.

The win lifts South Africa to second place in the ICC World Test Championship standings. 

With 36 points from four Tests, their PCT climbs from 66.67 to 75, keeping them just behind Australia. India, meanwhile, fall below Pakistan and drop to fifth place with a PCT of 48.15.

Lower-Order Brilliance and Bowling That Broke India

Day One offered little spark until Senuran Muthusamy (109) and Marco Jansen (93) revived the innings with a gritty, momentum-shifting partnership. 

Their efforts pushed South Africa to 489 in the first innings.

Jansen then produced one of the standout spells of the series. His 6/48 dismantled India, who managed just 201. Choosing not to enforce the follow-on, South Africa pressed further ahead, riding Tristan Stubbs’ fluent 94 to reach 260/5 before calling their innings.

Simon Harmer — already the Player of the Match in Kolkata — delivered another ruthless display. After claiming 3/64 in the first innings, he tore through India again on Day Five, taking 6/37 and removing any lingering hopes of a late recovery.

A Brief Fight, Then a Collapse

India showed flashes of resistance through Sai Sudarshan and Ravindra Jadeja, but the partnership unraveled under relentless pressure. 

Jadeja’s 54 off 87 stood as India’s lone bright spot before the team succumbed to the 408-run defeat.

In the field, Aiden Markram added impact with a pair of sharp, timely catches that kept South Africa’s energy high through a decisive final session.

The series now shifts to white-ball cricket, with the ODI leg beginning November 30.