NEW DELHI: Indian batters' struggles against quality spin in tricky home conditions were laid bare once again as South Africa defeated India by 30 runs in the first Test at Kolkata on Sunday, marking their first Test win in India in 15 years.
Chasing a modest target of 124, India lacked the composure and technique shown earlier by Temba Bavuma, eventually being bowled out for 93 in 35 overs. Shubman Gill, sidelined with a neck injury, was unavailable to bat on Day 3, further weakening the lineup.
Despite the pitch being expected to assist spinners like Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav, it was off-spinner Simon Harmer who stole the show with a match haul of eight wickets, proving decisive for the visitors.
This defeat marks India's fourth home loss in their last six Tests, including the 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand on turning tracks last year. The loss has once again reignited debates over the ability of Indian batters to handle challenging spinning conditions.
"We should have chased this down. The pressure kept on building in the second innings," said stand-in-captain Rishabh Pant at the post match presentation. Head coach Gautam Gambhir said the batters' should have found way to score runs on this surface.
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Washington Sundar (31 off 92) and Ravindra Jadeja (18 off 26) provided some hope for India during the run chase, showing calmness and playing with soft hands.
However, Simon Harmer struck again, trapping Jadeja as India's innings began to wobble. Washington fell shortly after, deceived by Aiden Markram's part-time off-spin.
Dhruv Jurel started confidently and survived a close DRS call, but the pressure of the situation led him to attempt a risky one-handed pull, which was comfortably caught by Bosch at deep mid-wicket.
Rishabh Pant looked fragile at the crease. His 2 off 13 balls did little to instill confidence, and a tentative push ended in a return catch to Maharaj, reflecting India’s scrambled and unsettled mindset during the chase.
Axar Patel (26 off 17) briefly ignited Eden with two sixes and a four, but with only Bumrah for company, risks outstripped returns. Maharaj nailed him soon after, ending India’s hopes as the stadium fell silent again.
What will rankle India more than the defeat is that their own spin blueprint backfired.
In the morning session, Bavuma's plucky 55 not out brought South Africa back in the game on an uneven pitch alive before left-arm quick Marco Jansen (2/15) reduced India to 10 for two at lunch.
The explosive Yashasvi Jaiswal, tentative and late on the stroke, fell for a four-ball duck as a steep good-length ball kissed his outside edge to Kyle Verreynne.
In his next over, Jansen went around the wicket and got the big scalp of KL Rahul for 1, rushing him with lift from a back-of-length ball that ballooned off the glove.
South Africa stretched their overnight 93/7 (lead 63) to 153, courtesy Bavuma's assured effort and Corbin Bosch's brisk 25 off 37 balls in a 44-run eighth-wicket stand that frustrated India for 44 minutes.
Pant's decision to not use Jasprit Bumrah from the more dangerous Club House End where he got his first-innings fifer baffled many.
South Africa stretched the advantage past 100 thanks to Bavuma's assured effort.
Bavuma, playing his first Test since leading them to historic WTC triumph at Lord's, was immovable through the morning and brought up the first fifty of the match with a fine-leg boundary off Bumrah.
He survived an lbw scare on 54 when Siraj's appeal was overturned with the ball missing leg stump.
Siraj, however, struck twice in the same over, bowling Simon Harmer after the batter shouldered arms to see his off stump rattled, and then trapped Keshav Maharaj plumb in front with a pinpoint yorker.
Ravindra Jadeja finished with 4/50 from his 20 overs, while Kuldeep Yadav and (2/30) and Mohammed Siraj (2/2) took two each.
Axar Patel (1/24) and Bumrah (1/36) were also among wickets while Sundar was not bowled.
(With PTI Inputs)
