Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj faced a difficult evening at Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport after experiencing an unexpected four-hour delay on his Air India Express flight IX 2884 to Hyderabad. The setback occurred shortly after India’s heavy defeat to South Africa in the second Test, leaving the pacer frustrated with the airline’s lack of communication and accountability.
Siraj took to social media to share his disappointment, stating that passengers received no proper updates regarding the delay. The flight, originally scheduled for 7:25 pm, kept being pushed back without any explanation from the staff. The bowler described the experience as one of the worst he had encountered, adding that travellers deserved basic information during such disruptions. He cautioned others about relying on the airline if it could not take responsibility for passenger welfare.
His travel troubles added to an already tough day, as India had suffered a massive 408-run defeat — their biggest loss by runs in Test cricket. Siraj managed two wickets for 105 runs in the first innings but remained wicketless in the second innings, bowling only five overs. South Africa dominated the match from the start, with standout performances from Senuran Muthusamy, who struck his maiden Test century, and Marco Jansen, who contributed 93 runs and a six-wicket haul. Simon Harmer sealed the series with outstanding figures of 6 for 37 in the final innings, bowling India out for just 140 in their chase of 549.
The result secured a 2–0 sweep for South Africa, marking their first Test series victory in India in 25 years and deepening concerns about India’s recent form. Head coach Gautam Gambhir acknowledged collective responsibility for the defeat, while captain Rishabh Pant admitted that the team failed to seize crucial moments throughout the series.
