A light-hearted exchange between Shaun Pollock and Marco Jansen added a refreshing touch to the end of Day 3 of the second Test between India and South Africa in Guwahati. After a day dominated by South Africa’s towering all-rounder, Pollock praised Jansen for his match-defining performance, and the youngster’s humble yet witty reply quickly became a fan favourite moment.
Marco Jansen was nothing short of exceptional on Day 3. After narrowly missing out on his maiden Test century, he unleashed a ruthless spell with the ball, dismantling India’s fragile batting unit. His sensational figures of 6 for 48 played a central role in bundling India out for just 201, leaving the hosts trailing far behind South Africa’s imposing first-innings total of 489. Despite the massive lead, the Proteas chose not to enforce the follow-on.
In doing so, Jansen created history. He became the first South African cricketer to score a fifty and take a six-wicket haul in the same Test in India—a feat that even legends like Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, and Lance Klusener hadn’t achieved despite touring India multiple times. Remarkably, Jansen accomplished this milestone on his very first Test tour of the country.
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His 93 off 91 balls in the first innings set the tone, and with the ball, he struck early on Day 3 by removing Dhruv Jurel. Later in the day, he returned with renewed intensity, breaking India’s middle order with the dismissals of Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Ravindra Jadeja in a devastating burst. Jansen completed his five-wicket haul by sending back Kuldeep Yadav—who fought hard for his 19 off 134 balls—before removing Jasprit Bumrah to conclude the innings.
After stumps, Pollock applauded Jansen’s all-round brilliance, joking that if he wasn’t batting, he was bowling, and if he wasn’t bowling, he was making an impact in the field. Jansen responded with a grin: “I just want to be like you, Shaun.” His comment drew laughter, underlining the camaraderie between the two Proteas.
Speaking about his approach, Jansen explained that the pitch offered good pace and bounce, allowing the pacers to stay in the contest even without much seam movement. He credited the spinners for applying pressure during a “dead period” in the day, acknowledging that their control allowed him to strike later.
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Reflecting on his 90s dismissal, Marcos Jansen said he had already processed the disappointment: “Today was all about doing a job for the team, which I’m glad I did.” His maturity, skill and humility combined to make Day 3 a defining chapter of his young Test career—one that South Africa will cherish as they push for a historic series victory in India.
