South Africa cricketer Aiden Markram stole the show with his exceptional catching spree during the second and final Test against India at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Markram shattered a world record with his exceptional catching, surpassing former Indian skipper Ajinkya Rahane in the elite list.
South Africa outplayed India throughout the two-match series. The visitors began by winning the opening Test in Kolkata and carried that momentum into the second match in Guwahati. The Proteas recorded a massive 408-run victory and sealed a 2–0 clean sweep, their first Test series triumph in India in 25 years.
Aiden Markram Creates History with Most Catches by an Outfielder in a Test
Aiden Markram created history in the Test by taking more catches than any outfielder has ever managed in a single match. He completed his ninth catch of the match following Washington Sundar’s dismissal. Markram surpassed Ajinkya Rahane’s (8) previous record during the match against Sri Lanka in 2015.
In India’s first innings, he took catches of KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav. In the second innings, he added the scalps of Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pan,t and Sundar.
Markram’s exceptional athletic ability allows him to cover ground quickly and reach chances that most players cannot. His catching technique makes him one of the safest fielders in world cricket.
Most Catches in a Test Match for South Africa:
| Player | Catches | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiden Markram | 9 | India | Guwahati | 2025 |
| Bert Vogler | 6 | England | Durban | 1910 |
| Bruce Mitchell | 6 | Australia | Melbourne | 1931 |
| Jacques Kallis | 6 | Sri Lanka | Cape Town | 2012 |
| Graeme Smith | 6 | Australia | Perth | 2012 |
| David Bedingham | 6 | Pakistan | Cape Town | 2025 |
Most Catches in a Test Match (Non-Wicketkeeper):
| Player | Team | Catches | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiden Markram | South Africa | 9 | India | Guwahati | 2025 |
| Ajinkya Rahane | India | 8 | Sri Lanka | Galle | 2015 |
| Greg Chappell | Australia | 7 | England | Perth (WACA) | 1974 |
| Yajurvindra Singh | India | 7 | England | Bengaluru | 1977 |
| Hashan Tillakaratne | Sri Lanka | 7 | New Zealand | Colombo (SSC) | 1992 |
| Stephen Fleming | New Zealand | 7 | Zimbabwe | Harare | 1997 |
| Matthew Hayden | Australia | 7 | Sri Lanka | Galle | 2004 |
| KL Rahul | India | 7 | England | Nottingham | 2018 |
| Aiden Markram | South Africa | 7 | India | Guwahati | 2025 |
Keshav Maharaj Claims Final Two Wickets to Seal India’s 408-Run Defeat
After Washington Sundar’s dismissal, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was removed for a three-ball duck. Simon Harmer secured his sixth wicket of the innings.
Keshav Maharaj then wrapped up the innings. The left-arm spinner dismissed Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj in the same over. The final wicket came with Marco Jansen taking a brilliant diving catch in the deep, as India were bowled out for just 140.
With the 408-run win, South Africa completed a 2-0 clean sweep. Notably, it is their first Test series triumph in India since 2000, when Hansie Cronje’s team had achieved the same result.
