Day 4 at Barsapara in Guwahati produced a light-hearted yet heated moment when stand-in captain Rishabh Pant publicly scolded Kuldeep Yadav for taking too long to start an over. India were under pressure after being bowled out for 201 in the first innings, trailing South Africa by 288, and every over mattered. Kuldeep repeatedly stretched the permitted 60-second window between overs, painstakingly adjusting fields before the 48th over.
Rishabh Pant, who had shown patience earlier, finally lost his cool and barked, “Pehli ball to daal den,” urging the spinner to bowl the first delivery and sort the field later. The delay was risky. Law allows two warnings for slow overstarts before a five-run penalty can be imposed, with warnings reset after 80 overs.
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By dallying on the edge of that limit, Kuldeep’s theatrics invited criticism: on a day when India needed momentum, time-wasting threatened to hand control back to the Proteas. Bowlers and captains must balance tactical field-setting against the simple need to keep the game moving — especially in a tight Test.
— crictalk (@crictalk7) November 25, 2025
Pant’s outburst underlines the pressure India face in this must-win fixture. After early promise from KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, India’s middle order collapsed, and lower-order resistance from Washington Sundar and Kuldeep gave brief hope. But with South Africa posting 489 and starting their second innings, little room remains for gamesmanship.
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The exchange also highlighted modern Test-day tensions: leaders demanding urgency while bowlers chase perfection. Fans on social media split — some backed Pant’s urgency; others sympathised with Kuldeep’s desire to perfect plans. Whatever the view, the moment was a reminder that in Test cricket, small decisions — the timing of one ball — can sway sessions, and sometimes emotions spill over when the stakes are high. India must focus on discipline and clarity as the match reaches its climax.
