IND vs SA: South Africa captain Temba Bavuma delivered a measured assessment after his team pulled off a stunning 30-run win over India in the opening Test at Eden Gardens. The victory was historic not only because it ended a long winless run in India, but also because it highlighted how the visitors adapted better to conditions India themselves had requested.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Bavuma acknowledged that South Africa had beaten India at their own game. “Yeah, it’s probably true. I think the wicket that was prepared is what I understand was asked on their side. We came here knowing the wickets are going to be spinner-friendly,” he said. His composed 55 off 136 balls in the low-scoring contest proved decisive, showing patience and discipline on a pitch that offered sharp turn, inconsistent bounce, and patches of unpredictable skidding conditions India struggled to navigate.
The Eden Gardens surface became the defining talking point of the match. While India had hoped the spin-friendly wicket would give Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav the edge, it was South Africa’s Simon Harmer, with eight wickets across both innings, who controlled the game’s rhythm. India’s fourth-innings collapse, folding for just 93 while chasing 124, raised questions about whether the overly “manufactured” pitch plan had backfired.
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Bavuma, however, remained composed when discussing the pitch controversy. “I don’t think I’ve ever played on day five in India. Nor have I played day four, unless they’ve scored 600. There weren’t demons, nothing you wouldn’t expect. From a spin point of view, I felt it was tricky. Some balls were bouncing nicely, others were squatting, which made cross-batted shots harder,” he said.
Despite the loss, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly confirmed that the pitch was prepared in line with India’s requests. “Maybe from a spin point of view, you’d expect the wicket to play more from day three or four onwards. But that’s what you can expect when you come to India,” Gambhir added.
South Africa now lead the series 1-0, and India will face tough questions – not just about their batting, but also about the very pitches they are asking for. The second Test in Guwahati, starting November 22, promises high drama as India look to stage a comeback.
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