IND vs SA 2025: Former India coach suggests gutsy declaration move to push for result in Guwahati Test

Former India cricketer Ravi Shastri has urged India to declare even 100 runs behind South Africa's first innings total to try and set up a potential win in the second Test of the ongoing two-match series. The hosts trailed by 480 runs at Stumps on Day 2 of the Test.

His comments came after the end of the second day's play. The ex-head coach held the view that even levelling the Proteas' score of 489 may take a bit longer than expected, something which might not work in favour of the Indian team who are trailing in the series after losing the series-opening clash in Kolkata.

“Tactically, India will have to take a call tomorrow. See how they get through the new ball, then take the game forward and force a win. They’ll have to call the shots, which means you might even want to declare behind, then try to bowl out the opposition quickly in the second innings. You’ve got to take those chances. You can’t wait to bat past 489 — that’ll take too long. They might have to declare 80, 90, even 100 runs behind and see how it pans out,” stated Shastri during an interaction on Star Sports.

Up until now, there have been 33 instances when teams have declared while trailing in Test cricket. However, only three of those decisions have paid off and resulted in wins. Speaking of India, they have made four such declarations.

Their only defeat while doing so came in 1948 against Australia in Melbourne after they had declared while still trailing by 103 runs. All of the three other times — trailing Pakistan by 41 runs in Faisalabad (1978), trailing England by 1 run in Kanpur (1982) and trailing England by 4 runs in Nagpur (2012) — ended with both teams sharing the honours.

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Only time will reveal whether standby skipper Rishabh Pant and the coaching staff feel it right to call an early declaration if they get close to South Africa's total. At the close of play on the second day, India were 9/0 in 6.1 overs with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul at the crease.