India’s batting collapse in the ongoing Test has revived an uncomfortable piece of history: the last time India were asked to follow-on at home was 15 years ago, when South Africa enforced it in Nagpur in 2010. Incidentally, that match also marked South Africa’s last Test victory on Indian soil before the start of the current series.
In that 2010 Nagpur Test, India were bundled out for 233 in response to South Africa’s 558/6 declared, prompting the visitors to enforce the follow-on. India were bowled out again for 319, handing South Africa an innings win.
Since then, India have maintained one of the strongest home records in world cricket, going through multiple cycles without coming close to a follow-on situation. Even top-ranked touring sides have struggled to dominate India to such an extent over the past decade.
The situation today highlights how dramatically the match has swung. After a promising start at 95/1, India slumped to 122/7, triggering concerns of another follow-on drama. The collapse is already one of India’s worst in Tests, and the pitch conditions — coupled with disciplined South African bowling — have put the home side in deep trouble.
Whether the follow-on is eventually imposed will depend on India’s final first-innings score, but the parallels with 2010 have already intensified the pressure. For South Africa, it is another opportunity to break a long-standing drought in India; for India, it is a test of resilience in their home fortress.
