IND vs SA 1st Test: India slumped to another painful home defeat on Sunday, falling 30 runs short while chasing just 124 against South Africa on a treacherous third-day pitch at Eden Gardens. Less than a year after a similar embarrassment, the hosts once again came undone in conditions that demanded discipline, calm nerves, and quite frankly, a little bit of luck.
Bavuma, Bosch Dig In as India Lose Control Early
The day began with India needing quick wickets, but Temba Bavuma and Corbin Bosch had other plans. Their stubborn 44-run stand dragged South Africa to safety and beyond, pushing the target into three-figure territory. On a surface that had been unpredictable all match with low skidders one ball and leaping lifters the next those extra runs felt like a mountain.
By the time India broke through, Bavuma was well set. His unbeaten 55 lifted the visitors to a 123-run lead, a total that suddenly looked far more than competitive on this surface.
Gill’s Absence, Early Collapses Hurt India
India’s chase was already on shaky ground before a ball was bowled. Captain Shubman Gill was ruled out due to a severe neck spasm, meaning India were effectively one wicket down at the start. And things got worse quickly.
Marco Jansen made immediate inroads, knocking over Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck and KL Rahul for just one. The middle order, walking into a minefield of uneven bounce and sharp turn, couldn’t quite steady the ship.
Simon Harmer then took over first getting Dhruv Jurel caught at deep mid-wicket off a rare long hop, then dismissing stand-in captain Rishabh Pant for two. His 91 kph yorker to trap Ravindra Jadeja was the kind of ball that wins you Test matches.
Washington Sundar Holds Firm… Until He Doesn’t
At No. 3, Washington Sundar showed grit, defending tirelessly and soaking up pressure. But when Bavuma turned to part-timer Aiden Markram, the off-spinner found a faint outside edge, undoing Sundar’s hard work.
A Flicker of Fight from Axar Patel
Axar Patel briefly ignited hope. After 72 balls without a boundary, he broke the drought with a four, then followed it up with a six and another four off Maharaj. But the temptation proved too much. Maharaj tossed one wider, Axar went for the slog, and Bavuma took a sharp catch. The very next ball, Mohammed Siraj edged behind, sealing India’s fate and giving South Africa their first Test win on Indian soil in 15 years.
A Worrying Pattern for India at Home
This defeat adds to a troubling trend. Under coach Gautam Gambhir, India have now lost two Test matches at home while chasing targets under 150, something no other team has done even once this century.
Last year’s 25-run loss to New Zealand while chasing 147 at the Wankhede still stings, and this defeat only highlights how fragile India have become in pressure fourth-innings situations.
At Eden Gardens alone, India have chased a three-figure target successfully just once in 13 attempts.
What’s Next?
South Africa take huge momentum into the second Test in Guwahati on Saturday. India, meanwhile, have plenty to think about team balance, mental resilience, and the growing pattern of collapsing in modest run chases at home.
The pitch was tough, sure, but for a team that prides itself on conquering home conditions, this loss will sting for a long time.
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