On a dry Eden Gardens pitch where India loaded up on spin by fielding four spinners for the first time in a home Test since 2012, it was Jasprit Bumrah who stole the show with a sensational 5-27. His spell triggered a dramatic collapse, skittling South Africa for just 159 after the visitors had powered to 57 for no loss.
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.
Mohammed Siraj (2-47) and Kuldeep Yadav (2-36) chipped in as South Africa lost all ten wickets for just 102 runs in 55 overs.
Proteas Start Strong Before Sudden Slide
After electing to bat, Aiden Markram (31) and Ryan Rickelton (23) produced South Africa’s first fifty opening stand in India in 17 innings. Rickelton punished anything loose, while Markram showcased elegance with crisp strokes, including a superb shimmy down the track to launch Axar Patel for six.
But Bumrah’s double strike flipped the script. He uprooted Rickelton’s off stump with a length ball that straightened, before extracting steep bounce to force Markram into a glove-through dismissal brilliantly taken by Rishabh Pant. From 57/0, South Africa nosedived to 71/3.
India Strike in Clusters
Kuldeep trapped Temba Bavuma with a clever leg-slip trap, while Dhruv Jurel’s sharp catch sent the Proteas captain back for three. After a brief resistance from Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi, momentum once again swung India’s way after lunch.
Mulder fell trying to reverse sweep Kuldeep, while Bumrah returned to nip one back sharply to pin de Zorzi for 24. Siraj then found reverse swing in a brilliant 45th over, removing Kyle Verreynne lbw before castling Marco Jansen for a duck.
Axar Patel’s strike and two more Bumrah rockets after tea completed the demolition. The crowd of around 35,000 rose as Bumrah bowled Simon Harmer before nailing Keshav Maharaj with a searing inswinging yorker to complete his five-wicket haul. South Africa’s batting coach Ashwell Prince acknowledged the challenge of conditions.
We went to South Africa, and in five sessions the Test match was over. So it’s never a simple answer that this is how the wicket should be… You must have a lot more skills in your armoury to succeed.
India Begin Steadily in Reply
India ended the day at 37/1, trailing by 122, after Yashasvi Jaiswal (12) chopped on against Jansen. KL Rahul (13 not out) and newly promoted No.3 Washington Sundar (6 not out) weathered tight spells from Mulder, Jansen, and the spin duo of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer.
Rahul began cautiously, taking 14 balls to get off the mark, while Sundar survived early probing before settling in. Their unbroken 19-run partnership ensured India finished the day without further setbacks.
We are in a good position having lost just one wicket. Markram and Rickelton put on a good stand, we did well to come back and I think we’re ahead in the match at the moment.
Brief Scores: South Africa 159 all out in 55 overs (Aiden Markram 31, Ryan Rickelton 23; Jasprit Bumrah 5-27, Kuldeep Yadav 2-36) India 37/1 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 13 not out, Washington Sundar 6 not out; Marco Jansen 1-11). India trail by 122 runs.
