India found themselves under pressure on Day 3 of the second Test in Guwahati after suffering a middle-order collapse, eventually folding for 201 in response to South Africa’s commanding 489. With a hefty 288-run lead, South Africa had the option to enforce the follow-on, but captain Temba Bavuma chose to bat again, leaving India with a sizeable target over the remaining two days.
The Rishabh Pant-led side now faces a difficult task: dismiss South Africa quickly and then chase the total despite having been bowled out in a single day. Had South Africa enforced the follow-on, it would have marked a rare moment in Indian Test history.
India have not been asked to follow on for 14 years, and not on home soil for 15 years. The last instance came during the 2011 England tour at The Oval, where India suffered an innings-and-eight-run defeat. Since then, the team has played over 100 Tests without being forced into a follow-on.
In India, the most recent follow-on was in 2010 against South Africa in Nagpur, a match the hosts lost by an innings and six runs.
Tests Where India Were Asked to Follow-On
On home turf, India have been asked to follow on only three times:
-
Australia (2001)
-
New Zealand (2003)
-
South Africa (2010)
Across all formats and venues, India have faced the follow-on 33 times. Remarkably, they have secured victory only once—in the iconic 2001 Eden Gardens Test against Australia, where VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid led one of the greatest comebacks in cricket history.
What Is a Follow-On in Test Cricket?
A follow-on occurs when a team trailing by 200 or more runs after the first innings is asked by the opposition captain to bat again immediately. Instead of taking their own second innings, the leading team forces the opposition to play back-to-back innings. The follow-on is a tactical decision, often used to maintain pressure and maximize time available to win the match.