Guwahati, India – India faces an uphill battle on Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati after the Proteas posted a formidable 489 in their first innings. The hosts ended Day 2 on 9/0, trailing by a daunting 480 runs, and will need a herculean effort from their batting lineup to get back into the game.

The spotlight will firmly be on openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal as they walk out to bat on a pitch that has been described as a "proper road" by Kuldeep Yadav. The duo managed to survive a tricky six-over spell at the end of Day 2, but the real test begins now. India needs a strong opening partnership to lay the foundation for a massive comeback.

South Africa's imposing total was built on the back of a brilliant rearguard action by their lower order. Senuran Muthusamy struck a resilient maiden Test century, scoring 109 off 206 balls, while Marco Jansen blazed his way to a rapid 93 off just 91 deliveries. Their aggressive partnership frustrated the Indian bowlers and ensured that South Africa got close to the 500-run mark.

The Indian bowlers toiled hard on Day 2, with Kuldeep Yadav being the pick of the lot, bagging 4 wickets for 115 runs. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with two wickets each. However, they struggled to contain the South African lower order, who attacked the spinners with great effect.

Former India cricketer Anil Kumble has stressed the importance of India batting through the next two days to have any chance of saving the Test. He expects the spinners to come into play on Day 3, but also acknowledged that the pitch remains good for batting. Kumble felt that Marco Jansen "completely took the game away from India" with his aggressive innings.

The task for Rahul and Jaiswal is clear: they need to bat patiently, build a long partnership, and try to wear down the South African bowlers. Jaiswal in particular, will need to "settle in, get used to the conditions" before taking on the bowlers. With overcast conditions and the possibility of bad light affecting play later in the day, India will be keen to score quickly and reduce the deficit as much as possible.

The match is also crucial in the context of the series, with South Africa looking to win their first Test series in India in 25 years. India, on the other hand, need to win to level the series. The pressure is on the Indian batting lineup to deliver and keep the series alive.