The second session of Day 3 in the first Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, is underway with the hosts in a precarious position, needing 103 more runs to chase down 124 and secure a series lead. India slipped to 21/2 after 8.4 overs before lunch, losing openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) and KL Rahul (1) to a fiery spell from South Africa's Marco Jansen. Washington Sundar (11 off 25) and Dhruv Jurel (9* off 17) are now tasked with steadying the innings on a spin-friendly surface, where the current run rate stands at a cautious 2.42.

South Africa were bundled out for 153 in their second innings earlier, extending their first-innings deficit of 30 but setting a modest target thanks to captain Temba Bavuma's gritty half-century (52*) and a quickfire 25 from Corbin Bosch. India's bowlers dominated, with Ravindra Jadeja claiming 4/48, while Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj picked up two wickets each to wrap up the innings swiftly. The Proteas' collapse highlighted the pitch's challenges, where spin gripped and turned sharply, leaving India optimistic yet vigilant about their own batting response.

Compounding India's woes, captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out for the remainder of the match due to a neck injury sustained on Day 2, forcing the team to bat with one specialist short. Gill was hospitalized post-play for observation, and in his absence, Gautam Gambhir, as interim stand-in, promoted Washington Sundar to No. 3—a bold move amid the chaos. The injury adds emotional weight to the chase, with no like-for-like replacement available, stretching the lower order including Rishabh Pant and the bowlers.

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Post-lunch, India survived a massive DRS scare when Keshav Maharaj trapped Jurel lbw, but ball-tracking showed it missing leg stump, handing South Africa their review. Corbin Bosch (0.4-0-5-0) and Maharaj (1-0-6-0) are applying pressure, but Sundar and Jurel's partnership of 20 runs offers hope. Axar Patel noted post-session that while one end favors straight bowling, the other assists spin, urging the batsmen to take the game deep without rushing. South Africa's sharp fielding has denied easy runs, keeping the tension high.

With three days left but a pitch favoring results, this low-scoring thriller could wrap up today, testing India's resolve in the Freedom Trophy series. A win would mark their first home Test victory over South Africa since 2019, boosting morale ahead of the second Test in Guwahati. As Sundar and Jurel dig in, the focus shifts to building partnerships against a Proteas side desperate for a fightback—stay tuned for what promises to be a nail-biting finish.

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