IND vs SA 1st Test: India’s shocking 30-run defeat to South Africa at Eden Gardens wasn’t just another bad day at the office, it was a loss loaded with historic and uncomfortable numbers. Chasing only 124, the hosts fell apart on a pitch that kept spitting uneven bounce, while Temba Bavuma’s gritty fifty and South Africa’s relentless bowlers sealed a famous win. It also marked India’s second failed sub-150 chase at home in under a year, raising serious questions ahead of the Guwahati Test.
But beyond the drama on the field, the scorecard and record books paint an even sharper picture. Here’s a look at the standout stats and milestones from the first Test:
Simon Harmer’s Love Affair With Indian Conditions
South Africa’s off-spinner Simon Harmer once again proved why he’s such a handful on turning tracks. His figures in India make for remarkable reading: 1/51, 4/61, 4/78, 1/64, 4/30, 4/21.
Lowest Targets India Have Failed to Chase
India have rarely stumbled while chasing modest totals at home but this one now sits near the top of an unwanted list:
| Lowest Targets India Failed to Chase Down | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120 | West Indies | Bridgetown | 1997 |
| 124 | South Africa | Eden Gardens | 2025 |
| 147 | New Zealand | Wankhede | 2024 |
| 176 | Sri Lanka | Galle | 2015 |
| 193 | England | Lord’s | 2025 |
| 194 | England | Edgbaston | 2014 |
The 124-run target now stands as India’s second-lowest failed chase in Test history.
South Africa’s Lowest Targets Successfully Defended
| Lowest Target Successfully Defended by South Africa | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | Australia | Sydney | 1994 |
| 124 | India | Eden Gardens | 2025 |
| 146 | Pakistan | Faisalabad | 1997 |
| 177 | Sri Lanka | Kandy | 2000 |
Defending 124 away from home, in India, is no small statement.
Lowest Targets Successfully Defended in Tests in India
| Lowest Target Successfully Defended in Tests in India | Team | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 107 | IND vs AUS | Wankhede | 2004 |
| 124 | SA vs IND | Eden Gardens | 2025 |
| 147 | NZ vs IND | Wankhede | 2024 |
| 170 | IND vs SA | Ahmedabad | 1996 |
In the past 21 years, only twice has a visiting team defended a target under 150 in India—and both have come in back-to-back seasons.
Next Destination Guwahati
India’s defeat wasn’t just about a batting collapse, it was a statistical outlier that fits uncomfortably into some of the rarest categories in Indian Test cricket. With momentum firmly with South Africa, the pressure is now squarely on the hosts to bounce back in Guwahati.
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