Home Humiliation: India Crumble Chasing 124, Handing South Africa Historic Win

Kolkata, Eden Gardens – In a shocking turn of events, Team India suffered a humiliating 30-run defeat to South Africa in the 1st Test at the Eden Gardens, failing to chase down a modest target of 124. The Test concluded inside three days, with the Proteas, led by a sensational spell from off-spinner Simon Harmer, registering their first Test victory on Indian soil in 15 years.
The collapse on Day 3 has immediately put the spotlight on India’s brittle batting and the severely underprepared pitch, which offered vicious turn and unpredictable bounce from the first morning.

Target Set: Bavuma’s Fight Secures Crucial Lead
Starting Day 3 on 93/7 in their second innings, South Africa needed their lower order to eke out every possible run. Captain Temba Bavuma delivered a gritty, match-defining performance. His unbeaten 55 was the only half-century of the entire low-scoring Test, and crucially, his partnership with Corbin Bosch stretched the Proteas’ total to 153, leaving India a chase of 124.
While India’s spinners, particularly Ravindra Jadeja, had kept the hosts in the game, the final 30 runs added by South Africa proved to be the difference between a simple chase and a defensive nightmare.

💥 The Collapse: Harmer and Jansen Run Riot
India’s chase was virtually on the back foot before it began, with regular captain Shubman Gill ruled out of the innings due to a neck injury sustained on Day 2. The remaining batters then faced a terrifying examination on a crumbling surface:

• Marco Jansen’s early burst was lethal, the tall left-arm seamer removing both openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) and KL Rahul (1), with the score barely reaching double digits.
• The middle order capitulated entirely against the spin trio of Harmer, Maharaj, and part-timer Markram. Simon Harmer, who had already bowled exceptionally in the first innings, was relentless, claiming 4 wickets for 24 runs in the second innings to finish with a match haul of 8/54.
• Wickets fell in clusters, with India losing seven crucial scalps in a single session. The specialist batters, including stand-in captain Rishabh Pant, failed to apply themselves or craft a game plan to counter the turn and variable bounce.
• Only Washington Sundar (31) and Axar Patel (26) offered a semblance of resistance, frustrating the Proteas briefly, but their efforts were ultimately in vain as India were bundled out for a shocking 93 runs.
  
  Player of the Match: Simon Harmer (8 wickets in the match).🤔 Key Takeaways and Controversy
  India’s failure to chase down 124 marks only the second time in the 21st century that they have lost a home Test chasing a target under 150. The loss has immediately ignited a fierce debate about the quality of the pitch, with former players like Harbhajan Singh slamming the Eden Gardens surface as “pathetic” and “unfit for Test cricket” due to its extreme deterioration.
  South Africa, however, showed superior temperament and application, particularly captain Bavuma, to secure the lead, making a resounding statement in the opening Test of the series. India will now head to Guwahati needing a decisive victory to level the two-match series.