The India vs South Africa 1st Test at Eden Gardens turned into a gripping, low-scoring thriller that showcased the beauty of red-ball cricket. Both teams fought hard on a challenging surface, and the match swung dramatically across all four innings. Eventually, South Africa ended their 15-year wait for a Test win in India, but not before delivering a contest packed with tension, collapse, and resilience.
South Africa 1st Innings – 159 (10 wkts, 55 ov)
South Africa struggled right from the start as India’s bowlers attacked with precision. Jasprit Bumrah bowled with exceptional control, consistently beating the bat and dismantling the top order. He removed both openers early and maintained complete dominance throughout his spell.
Aiden Markram tried to resist with a brief counterattack, but none of the partnerships lasted long. Mohammed Siraj supported Bumrah beautifully, tightening the pressure with relentless accuracy. As a result, South Africa was dismissed for 159, giving India early momentum and control of the match.
| Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Aiden Markram | 31 | 48 | 5 | 1 |
| Ryan Rickelton | 23 | 22 | 4 | 0 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 24 | 51 | 3 | 0 |
| Temba Bavuma (c) | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony De Zorzi | 24 | 55 | 1 | 1 |
| Tristan Stubbs* | 15 | 74 | 1 | 0 |
| Kyle Verreynne (wk) | 16 | 36 | 2 | 0 |
| Marco Jansen | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Corbin Bosch | 3 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Simon Harmer | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling Figures
- Jasprit Bumrah – 14 ov, 27 runs, 5 wkts
- Mohammed Siraj – 12 ov, 47 runs, 2 wkts
- Axar Patel – 6 ov, 21 runs, 1 wkts
- Kuldeep Yadav – 14 ov, 36 runs, 2 wkts
India 1st Innings – 189 (10 wkts, 62.2ov)
India began confidently but soon realized the pitch still offered movement and uneven bounce. Rohit Sharma fell attempting an aggressive shot, and Shubman Gill also departed early. Virat Kohli attempted to steady the innings, yet a sudden rising ball forced his dismissal at a crucial stage.
Despite the struggles, the lower order stepped up. Ravindra Jadeja added valuable runs, and the tail chipped in just enough to push India to 189. Consequently, India gained a narrow but important 30-run lead heading into the second innings.
| Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 12 | 27 | 3 | 0 |
| KL Rahul | 39 | 119 | 4 | 1 |
| Washingron Sundar | 29 | 82 | 2 | 1 |
| Shubman Gill (c) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Rishabh Pant (wk) | 27 | 24 | 2 | 2 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 27 | 45 | 3 | 0 |
| Dhruv Jurel | 14 | 14 | 3 | 0 |
| Axar Patel | 16 | 45 | 2 | 0 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Jasprit Bumrah* | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling Figures
- Marco Jansen – 15 ov, 35 runs, 3 wkts
- Keshav Maharaj – 16 ov, 66 runs, 1 wkt
- Corbin Bosch – 11 ov, 32 runs, 1 wkt
- Simon Harmer – 15 ov, 30 runs, 4 wkts
South Africa 2nd Innings – 153 (10 wkts, 54 ov)
South Africa returned to bat knowing they had to challenge India with a competitive target. Early wickets again put them under pressure, but captain Temba Bavuma delivered a brilliant knock that changed the course of the match.
He showed patience, left the ball wisely, and punished every scoring opportunity. His unbeaten fifty anchored the innings and lifted the team’s confidence. Corbin Bosch partnered with him for a crucial stand that frustrated India and added stability. Finally, South Africa posted 153, setting India a target of 124 on a worn and unpredictable pitch.
| Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Ryan Rickelton | 11 | 23 | 1 | 0 |
| Aiden Markram | 4 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 11 | 30 | 1 | 0 |
| Temba Bavuma (c) | 55 | 136 | 4 | 0 |
| Tony De Zorzi | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tristan Stubbs | 5 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyle Verreynne (wk) | 9 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Marco Jansen | 13 | 16 | 0 | 1 |
| Corbin Bosch | 25 | 37 | 2 | 1 |
| Simon Harmer | 7 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling Figures
- Jasprit Bumrah – 10 ov, 24 runs, 1 wkt
- Axar Patel – 14 ov, 36 runs, 1 wkt
- Kuldeep Yadav – 8 ov, 30 runs, 2 wkts
- Ravindra Jadeja – 20 ov, 50 runs, 4 wkts
- Mohammed Siraj – 2 ov, 2 runs, 2 wkt
India 2nd Innings – 93 (10 wkts, 35ov)
India started the chase with optimism, but the pitch had deteriorated sharply. Simon Harmer immediately extracted turn and bounce, removing Rohit Sharma early and shaking India’s confidence. Shubman Gill soon followed, misjudging a delivery that spun sharply. Virat Kohli tried to rebuild, but Harmer trapped him with drift and dip, producing a key breakthrough.
Keshav Maharaj maintained tight control from the other end, creating pressure through maiden overs and clever variations. India’s batters struggled to rotate strike, played rash shots under pressure, and collapsed dramatically. Eventually, India was bowled out for 93, handing South Africa a stunning 30-run victory.
| Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| KL Rahul | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Sundar | 31 | 92 | 2 | 0 |
| Dhruv Jurel | 13 | 34 | 3 | 0 |
| Rishabh Pant (wk) | 2 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 18 | 26 | 2 | 0 |
| Axar Patel | 26 | 17 | 1 | 2 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Jasprit Bumrah* | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Shubman Gill* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling Figures
- Marco Jansen – 7 ov, 15 runs, 2 wkts
- Simon Harmer – 14 ov, 21 runs, 4 wkts
- Keshav Maharaj – 9 ov, 37 runs, 2 wkts
- Aiden Markram – 3 ov, 5 runs, 1 wkt
Conclusion
In conclusion, the India vs South Africa 1st Test proved that low-scoring matches can be captivating. South Africa displayed remarkable discipline, with Bavuma’s calm leadership and Harmer’s match-winning spell standing out. India, on the other hand, failed to adapt to the tricky pitch and crumbled under pressure during the chase. As the series progresses, India will aim to recover quickly, while South Africa will look to maintain momentum after a historic victory at Eden Gardens.
