NEW DELHI: Jasprit Bumrah stole the show on the opening day of the first Test at Eden Gardens, producing a stunning display of pace, swing, and control as India bowled out South Africa for just 159.

On a surface that had drawn pre-match scrutiny for its dry look, prompting India to field four spinners for the first time since 2012, it was Bumrah who made the ball talk the loudest. He returned superb figures of 14-2-27-5, his 16th five-wicket haul in 96 innings.

Bumrah produced a masterclass across just over two sessions, as South Africa collapsed from a commanding 57 for no loss in 10 overs to lose all ten wickets for 102 runs in the next 45 overs. Their innings lasted just four hours and 13 minutes after they had elected to bat first.

It was South Africa’s second-lowest total after a fifty-plus opening stand in men’s Tests since their readmission, the lowest being 130 in their second innings in the 2018 Cape Town Test, also against India after a 52-run opening partnership.

India ended the day at 37 for one in 20 overs, with a steady KL Rahul (13 from 59 balls) and Washington Sundar (6 from 38 balls) at the crease after Yashasvi Jaiswal (12) dragged Marco Jansen onto his stumps.

The duo looked in no hurry on a pitch offering movement and variable bounce, cutting the deficit to 122 runs in front of a sizeable Eden Gardens crowd of more than 36,000.

As light faded, South Africa crowded the bat with close-in fielders hoping for a late breakthrough and used five bowlers. Rahul and Sundar stayed calm and saw out the final overs without further damage.

South Africa, missing lead pacer Kagiso Rabada with a rib injury, had looked primed for a big score after a brisk opening stand between Aiden Markram (31 from 48 balls; 5x4, 1x6) and Ryan Rickelton (23 off 22; 4x4).

Markram, after 23 dot balls, opened up with a straight drive and flowing cover drive, later punishing Axar Patel twice and executing a deft late cut past backward point. He also launched Axar for a wristy six over midwicket as the run-rate surged above five an over. Rickelton’s hit-and-miss 22 off 23 added to India’s frustration.

Just before the drinks break in the first session, Bumrah from the Clubhouse end turned the morning on its head with two wickets in five balls in his first spell of 7-4-9-2. A 140 kmph length ball uprooted Rickelton’s off stump, and moments later a short-of-length delivery leapt to take Markram’s glove, highlighting the pitch’s variable bounce.

Bumrah returned after lunch to trap Tony de Zorzi (24) in front before closing out the second session with reverse swing that tore through the tail. Simon Harmer’s stumps were sent cartwheeling, and three balls later Keshav Maharaj was pinned plumb in front.

Siraj, Kuldeep tighten the grip

Having conceded 34 runs in his first six overs, Mohammed Siraj (2/47) struck twice in the second session, removing Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen in four balls during his 10th over. Verreynne (16) burned South Africa’s final review after being struck pad-then-bat, while Jansen was beaten by a reversing length ball that darted in sharply.

Kuldeep Yadav (2/29) contributed with the key wicket of skipper Temba Bavuma, caught smartly at leg slip by Dhruv Jurel, and later removed Wiaan Mulder (24) who had looked solid.

After the early losses of Bavuma and the openers, Mulder and Tony de Zorzi tried to steady the innings. Mulder batted for over 50 balls and looked compact against India’s four-pronged spin attack, but lost focus 15 minutes into the second session. Attempting a reverse sweep against Kuldeep, he missed completely and was trapped lbw, opening the floodgates for Bumrah and Siraj to finish off the innings.

Axar Patel (1/21) removed Corbin Bosch at tea as India maintained relentless pressure throughout the day.

(With PTI Inputs)