Kolkata: India’s long-standing vulnerability to quality spin surfaced again as South Africa clinched a 30-run win in the opening Test, marking their first victory on Indian soil in 15 years. Chasing a modest 124, India collapsed for 93 in 35 overs, never displaying the composure that South African captain Temba Bavuma had shown earlier in the day.
India were further handicapped by Shubman Gill’s absence due to a neck injury that ruled him out of batting on day three.
On a pitch expected to favour India’s spin trio—Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav—it was South African off-spinner Simon Harmer who dominated with a match haul of eight wickets. The defeat also marked India’s fourth home loss in six Tests, renewing questions about their batting against turning tracks.
Stand-in captain Rishabh Pant admitted the team squandered a chase they should have completed, saying the pressure kept piling up in the second innings. Head coach Gautam Gambhir echoed that sentiment, insisting the surface was not unplayable and that batters needed to adapt better.
Washington Sundar (31 off 92) and Jadeja (18 off 26) briefly steadied India, playing with patience and soft hands before Harmer trapped Jadeja and Aiden Markram removed Sundar. Dhruv Jurel battled early on but fell to a misjudged pull, while Pant’s tentative 2 off 13 ended with a simple return catch to Maharaj.
Axar Patel (26 off 17) tried to revive hopes with two sixes and a four, but with only Jasprit Bumrah at the other end, the counterattack was short-lived. Maharaj dismissed him soon after, sealing South Africa’s memorable win.
Earlier, Bavuma’s gritty 55 not out kept South Africa afloat on a tricky surface. His partnership with Corbin Bosch (25 off 37) pushed the visitors from an overnight 93/7 to 153, extending the lead beyond 100. Marco Jansen then rocked India with early strikes, removing Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck and KL Rahul for 1.
Questions were raised over Pant’s decision not to use Bumrah from the Club House End, where he had taken a five-wicket haul in the first innings. Bavuma went on to bring up the match’s first fifty and survived an LBW scare on 54.
Mohammed Siraj eventually removed Harmer and Maharaj in quick succession, while Jadeja finished with 4/50. Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets along with Siraj, while Axar Patel and Bumrah claimed one each.
The result leaves India searching for answers as their home dominance continues to waver.
