With India 146/7 in response to South Africa’s 489 in Guwahati, the follow-on equation is now very clear.
In a five-day Test, the follow-on can be enforced only if the team batting second trails by 200 runs or more after their first innings. That means the home side must bring the deficit below 200 to be “safe”.
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South Africa’s first-innings total: 489
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Maximum deficit allowed to avoid follow-on: 199 runs
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So India must reach at least: 489 − 199 = 290
India are currently 146/7, which means they need another 144 runs to get to 290 and ensure South Africa cannot enforce the follow-on.
Anything less than 290 all out will leave the Proteas captain with the option to send India back in immediately, depending on time left, pitch conditions and how attacking he wants to be.
