India’s stubborn resistance in the 2nd Test has produced a historic statistical milestone, with the ongoing partnership between Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav becoming the longest-ever 8th-wicket (or lower) stand for India against South Africa in terms of balls faced.
STAT ALERT:
This is the first time in India–South Africa Test history that a partnership for the 8th wicket or lower has crossed 200 deliveries. The previous best was set in 2015, when Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin added 98 runs in 193 balls in Delhi.
With Kuldeep and Washington now batting out 200+ balls, their grit has not only revived India’s hopes of avoiding the follow-on but has also etched their stand into the record books. Their partnership has become a crucial turning point as India continue to chip away at South Africa’s massive first-innings lead.
This lower-order defiance marks a rare moment of resilience in a fixture usually dominated by fast bowlers, making the effort even more noteworthy in the context of India–South Africa Tests.
