India vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test Day 2: KL Rahul, Washington Sundar begin cautiously

KL Rahul has become the 18th Indian batter to reach 4,000 Test runs, getting to the milestone 3,977 days after his debut. Only Mohinder Amarnath took longer among Indian players, reaching 4,000 runs in 6,214 days , the slowest by any of the 18. Rahul’s timeline reflects the inconsistent opportunities and fluctuating form he has experienced over the years.

In contrast, some Indians have raced to the same milestone. Virender Sehwag remains the fastest Indian to 4,000 Test runs, achieving the feat in just 79 innings and 48 matches. Other quick achievers include Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Cheteshwar Pujara, all of whom reached the mark with far fewer innings than Rahul.

IND 50/1 in 26.1 overs

Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen take the ball for South Africa to begin the day, arguably their two best bowlers in these conditions. For India, one concern is that both Rahul and Sundar are naturally more inclined to occupy the crease than to play freely. But on a pitch with unpredictable bounce, it’s crucial for them not only to rotate the strike but also to apply pressure on the bowlers whenever possible.

Several South African batters got starts on Day 1, but none were able to convert, with Aiden Markram top-scoring with just 31. India, in response, crawled to 37 runs in 20 overs, a clear indication of how challenging this pitch is for batting, and it’s only expected to get tougher as the Test goes on.

Kagiso Rabada rings the bell to kick off the action today. The South Africans gather in a huddle, the umpires make their way out, and a loud cheer erupts as the Indian batters stride to the middle.

Dinesh Karthik and Shaun Pollock on the pitch for Day 2, “Day 1 clearly belonged to the bowlers, with the fast bowlers picking up 8 of the 11 wickets that fell. The signs were visible right from the first over, where we saw variable bounce straight away. And why is that happening? A closer look shows the cracks — they’re prominent, and they’ll continue to influence the match.

The big question is how much these cracks will affect dismissals as the game progresses. We saw three examples from Bumrah’s spell where the pitch played a direct role in South Africa’s collapse. Against Markram, the ball kicked up sharply and became tough to handle. Another delivery to de Zorzi from around the wicket stayed unexpectedly low. Later, Simon Harmer also fell to one who misbehaved off the surface.

So yes, the variable bounce is real, it’s already shaping this Test, and it’s only going to have a bigger impact as the match goes on.”

“I certainly expected 3 spinners to play and 2 fast bowlers. So, that’s going to be a bit of a challenge. Day 1, the wicket is good. It’s not like you need 4 spinners and one of them will certainly get under-bowled. So, it’s going to be interesting to see how Shubman Gill uses his resources on Day 1. Of course, the 2 new ball bowlers will become that much more critical on day 1 for India,” Anil Kumble said

When Ravi Shastri mentioned the repeated streak during the toss, Shubman Gill responded with a line that instantly caught attention.

"I think the only toss that I’m going to win is hopefully in the WTC finals. Yeah. Looks like a good surface. Hopefully, we’ll get some movement early, hopefully we’re able to extract that. Dressing room is pretty amazing. This Test bunch is very hungry and is always determined to perform every time we come out.These two test matches for us are very crucial and we’re as hungry as ever. Looks like a good surface. It’s going to be a good surface for the first day or a couple of days. And then, hopefully, we’ll get some turn as the game goes on. Rishabh comes back in place of Reddy since we last played. And Axar is also back in the side."

Jasprit Bumrah has faced intense scrutiny over his workload since the England Test series, with critics questioning his commitment after he was unable to bowl on the final day of the Sydney Test due to a back spasm and was rested for two Tests in England.

"I try to give my best in whichever format I play. These questions are not my questions; I will not answer them. I try to play as much as I can. I try to take care of my body," he said at the post-match press conference.

He also reflected on the significance of a five-wicket haul in India, where conditions traditionally favour spinners. "Whenever you play in India, it is known that spinners will pick up a lot of wickets. So whenever you're able to make an impact with limited spells... it always feels good. I'm very happy with the performance. The job is still left in the Test match," he said.

Jasprit Bumrah broke down the tactical mindset needed on the lively Eden pitch. "Patience is the first lesson in Test cricket. If you're too desperate or go for a magic ball, the runs come too fast. You need to control your temptation and build pressure. There is a bit of help from the wicket, but you'll have to be patient here," he explained.

Assessing the right length on a tricky pitch was crucial. "Basically, it's the harder-ball game. When the ball is nice and hard, maybe the deviation is quicker. In my first over, everything happened: the ball swung, stayed low, and went high. One ball kicked, one went low... so then you see, okay, this is the way it's shaping. As the ball became softer, it settled down. The deviation was not consistent," Bumrah said.

India can certainly claim to have been on the better side throughout. South Africa began aggressively, with Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton blasting 57 runs in the first 10 overs, but Bumrah dismissed both in back-to-back overs to halt the momentum. The visitors eventually gave up for just 159, with Bumrah grabbing the spotlight thanks to his five-wicket haul.

With the bat, India did lose Yashasvi Jaiswal early, but KL Rahul and Washington Sundar showed commendable patience, guiding the team safely through the final session. With 9 more wickets to go, India will steer the vehicle in the driver's seat. Let us see how the WTC champions will handle it.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Day 2 of the first Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. After Jasprit Bumrah’s sensational five-wicket haul helped India bundle out South Africa for 159 in the first innings, the hosts will look to build a massive lead.