"They would have jumped and bitten your hand off" - South African legend reacts to Proteas’ excellent performance in IND vs SA 2025 Test series

Former South African skipper Shaun Pollock reserved massive praise for the Proteas amid their outstanding show in the Test series against Team India. Pollock said the visitors would have scarcely believed the thought of securing 24 World Test Championship (WTC) points during the two-Test tour of India.

South Africa staged a remarkable comeback in the first Test in Kolkata. Despite being bowled out for 159 in the first innings on Day 1, the Proteas won the Test within two and a half days. Temba Bavuma and company defended a paltry 123 to win by 30 runs. They are also in pole position in Guwahati to win the series 2-0.

When asked by Murali Kartik what will be South Africa's plan on Day 4, Pollock opined that a target of around 450 will be enough to beat India.

"I think what they will do, the terminology we need to get it right. So, it’s tea before lunch in this Test. So, they bat for the two hours to get to tea and bat for an hour after. You probably get close to 450. I think they will believe that’s enough. Pull out, have an hour before lunch. Two hours after lunch and then you’ve got the last day. I suppose the one thing not making India follow-on is that they’ll be setting India something. If they chase down 450, I would be very surprised at what we’ve seen. It’s all about points for the WTC now. Coming on this tour, if you said South Africa could walk away with 24 points on a tour of India, they would have jumped and bitten your hand off," he told Cricbuzz.

The 52-year-old added that the reigning WTC champions can also succeed in Sri Lanka, adding:

"Particularly after the last WTC final, where they got there and people said, ‘Who have they beaten and where they played’. You look at it now, you go to Pakistan, you draw the series and you come to India, you get two wins if it goes according to plan. Then you head to Sri Lanka where you can do some damage as well. That would be huge."

The tourists have dominated all three days of the Guwahati Test. Having piled on 489 in the first innings, they bowled India out for 201, headlined by Marco Jansen's six-for. Although South Africa had the chance to enforce the follow-on, they opted to bat again and are now leading by 314 runs.

"The Indian innings went on for a bit too long" - Shaun Pollock on South Africa not enforcing the follow-on

When asked whether he was surprised at the Proteas not enforcing the follow-on, Pollock said the bowlers might have been exhausted. In the same conversation, he elaborated:

"I think there could’ve been that awkward period for India. I just think the Indian innings went on for a bit too long because Kuldeep and Washington put that partnership together and extended it. I think if they got bowled out in like 60 overs, they would’ve said, “Okay, let’s follow on”. I just think the extra 20 overs meant that maybe they felt like, “Oh, okay, let’s have a night’s sleep. Let’s have a morning where we’re nice, relaxed and get a nice massages in the change room and then maybe after the tea break tomorrow, declare and say, ‘Okay, we’ve posted 450 or whatever.’"

Previously, South Africa beat India in their backyard in 2000 by a 2-0 scoreline.