India’s ongoing struggle against high quality spin in tough home conditions resurfaced as South Africa outplayed a highly rated Indian side to claim the opening Test by thirty runs at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. The win marked South Africa’s first Test triumph in India in fifteen years.
Chasing a manageable target of one hundred twenty four India lacked composure and clarity throughout the innings unlike Temba Bavuma who had anchored South Africa earlier in the day. India were bundled out for ninety three in thirty five overs. Shubman Gill remained unavailable due to a neck injury that kept him in hospital on Day Three.
On a pitch expected to support Indian spinners Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav it was Simon Harmer’s superb eight wicket haul that defined the match. India have now suffered four home defeats in their last six Tests a stretch that includes the three match whitewash in New Zealand on turning surfaces last year.
Stand in captain Rishabh Pant admitted the team fell short in the chase saying the pressure kept rising as wickets tumbled. Head coach Gautam Gambhir echoed that sentiment adding that this surface was playable and exactly the type they expected with the curator offering full cooperation.
Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja briefly steadied the chase with soft hands and composure. However Harmer struck again trapping Jadeja and reopening India’s slide. Washington’s dismissal to Aiden Markram’s part time spin added to India’s troubles. Dhruv Jurel showed maturity but a lack of runs forced him into an ill timed pull that found Corbin Bosch in the deep.
Pant looked unsettled and his return catch to Keshav Maharaj after scoring two reflected India’s muddled approach. Axar Patel lifted the crowd with two sixes and a four but with only Jasprit Bumrah. left he had to take risks and soon fell to Maharaj bringing India’s hopes to an abrupt end.
The loss will sting India even more because the spin friendly approach they expected to dominate ended up hurting them. Earlier in the day Bavuma’s gritty unbeaten fifty five revived South Africa on a surface with uneven bounce. Marco Jansen then rocked India before lunch by removing Yashasvi Jaiswal for a four ball duck and dismissing KL Rahul for one with sharp bounce from round the wicket.
South Africa extended their overnight score from ninety three for seven to one hundred fifty three with Bavuma’s steady batting and Corbin Bosch’s brisk twenty five in a stubborn eighth wicket partnership that frustrated India for forty four minutes. Pant’s choice to not use Bumrah from the more potent Club House End despite his five wicket haul in the first innings surprised many observers.
Bavuma was unshakeable and brought up the match’s first fifty with a fine leg boundary. A leg before scare against Mohammed Siraj was overturned and he continued to anchor the innings. Siraj however produced a double strike bowling Harmer who shouldered arms and then trapping Maharaj with a precise yorker.
Jadeja led India’s attack with four wickets while Kuldeep Yadav and Siraj claimed two each. Axar Patel and Bumrah also picked up one wicket apiece while Washington Sundar did not bowl.
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