India’s long-standing mastery on turning tracks slipped once more as South Africa clinched a 30-run victory in the opening Test in Kolkata on Sunday, sealing their first win on Indian soil in 15 years and exposing the host side’s deepening discomfort against quality spin.
Set 124 to win, India unravelled for 93 in 35 overs, displaying little of the composure with which Temba Bavuma had earlier revived South Africa’s position. Shubman Gill remained unavailable after being hospitalised with a neck injury, but the collapse went well beyond the absence of one batter.
On a surface expected to suit Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, it was off-spinner Simon Harmer who defined the contest with a match haul of eight wickets, turning India’s own spin blueprint sharply against them.
The defeat marked India’s fourth loss at home in six Tests, following last year’s 0-3 capitulation to New Zealand, and reignited concerns about the batting unit’s diminishing assurance on turning pitches.
“We should have chased this down. The pressure kept on building in the second innings,” stand-in captain Rishabh Pant said. Head coach Gautam Gambhir added that the batters should have found a way to score on the surface. “It wasn’t an unplayable wicket. This is exactly the kind of wicket we were looking for. The curator was very supportive,” said Gambhir.
Washington Sundar (31 off 92) and Jadeja (18 off 26) briefly steadied the chase with soft hands and restraint, but Harmer’s dismissal of Jadeja reopened the slide. Washington’s resistance ended soon after, beaten by Aiden Markram’s part-time off-spin.
Also read: India close in on win after Jadeja spins magic at Eden Gardens
Dhruv Jurel, who showed early composure and survived a DRS scare, succumbed to pressure, attempting a one-handed pull that found deep mid-wicket. Pant, visibly uncertain, lasted only 13 deliveries before offering Keshav Maharaj a return catch.
Axar Patel (26 off 17) provided a short burst of defiance with two sixes and a four, but with only Jasprit Bumrah left, the risks outweighed the innings. Maharaj removed him soon after, draining the last of Eden Gardens’ optimism.
India’s missteps earlier in the day compounded the damage. Bavuma’s dogged, unbeaten 55 on a pitch of uneven bounce pushed South Africa’s lead beyond 100. Corbin Bosch chipped in with a brisk 25 in a 44-run eighth-wicket stand that frustrated India.
Questions lingered over Pant’s decision not to bowl Bumrah from the Club House End, where he claimed his first-innings five-for. Bavuma, playing his first Test since leading South Africa to their historic WTC triumph at Lord’s, brought up the match’s first fifty with a fine-leg boundary off Bumrah and survived an overturned lbw decision on 54.
Siraj eventually removed Simon Harmer, who shoulders-armed to see his off stump flattened, and trapped Maharaj with a yorker in the same over. Jadeja finished with 4/50 from 20 overs, while Kuldeep Yadav (2/30) and Siraj (2/2) contributed crucial spells. Axar Patel (1/24) and Bumrah (1/36) were also among the wickets, while Sundar was not called upon to bowl.
Brief Scorecard – 1st Test, Kolkata
South Africa 1st Innings: 124 all out
Key: Bumrah 5 wickets
India 1st Innings: 124 all out
Match level after first innings
South Africa 2nd Innings: 153 all out
*Temba Bavuma 55
Corbin Bosch 25
Ravindra Jadeja 4/50
Siraj 2/2
Kuldeep 2/30
Target for India: 124
India 2nd Innings: 93 all out (35 overs)
Washington Sundar 31
Axar Patel 26
Harmer 8 wickets in match (main destroyer)
Maharaj key breakthroughs
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