They say one's words can come back to bite them. For South Africa's Simon Harmer, his words came true in the most spectacular way, but as a warning for India, not a bite for him.

After a tense Day 2 of the first Test, where Harmer’s own 4/30 helped keep South Africa in the game, he spoke to the press. He knew the challenge ahead. He pointed out a chilling statistic for the hosts, "There's only been one total of over 100 chased in the fourth innings here." He said South Africa needed to "get past 100. If we can get to 150, that would be incredible."

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One day later, that warning became a sad reality for India. After the Proteas set a tricky target of 124, the Indian batting line-up crumbled. They were bowled out for under 100, proving Harmer's words prophetic. The Eden Gardens pitch, which Harmer called "inconsistent," had lived up to its reputation, and the 100-run mark was indeed a fortress.

Harmer knew winning in India was the ultimate test. "India want to win the Test match and they want to play on wickets that suit them," he had said, adding the crucial line, "so we've got to find a way to beat them in their own condition."

And find a way they did. Interestingly, Harmer felt this pitch was better than what he faced on his last tour in 2015. He recalled those wickets as "probably worse," describing "craters" on the pitches in Mohali and Nagpur.

In comparison, he found this Eden Gardens track "far more playable." But "playable" doesn't mean easy. Harmer perfectly described the mental battle, calling the game "a cauldron of pressure". "When you walk into that cauldron, the pressure, the ball turning, not turning, Indian boys know how to bowl in these conditions... it's about settling your nerves," he explained further.

In the end, it was India's nerves that couldn't hold. South Africa, led by Simon Harmer's insights and performance along with Temba Bavuma starring in the 2nd innings with the bat, had found a way to win, just as he said they must.