India’s poor batting display led to a shocking defeat against South Africa in the first Test at Eden Gardens, marking their first failure in 28 years to chase a target below 125 runs in a home Test. Chasing a modest 124, the hosts were bundled out for just 93, suffering a 30-run loss that stunned home supporters and revived memories of their collapse in Bridgetown back in 1997.

The batting order crumbled against South Africa’s disciplined attack, with Washington Sundar being the lone standout performer, scoring 31 runs off 92 balls. Spinner Simon Harmer proved pivotal for the visitors, taking four wickets, while Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj contributed two dismissals each. The dramatic collapse added another low to India’s batting records, joining the 1997 Bridgetown loss when they failed to chase 120 and crumbled for just 81 runs.

India’s unsuccessful chase against South Africa adds to a recent string of failed pursuits on testing pitches. Their other notable unsuccessful chases include 147 against New Zealand in 2024 at the Wankhede, 176 against Sri Lanka in 2015 at Galle, and 193 against England earlier this year at Lord’s. The loss highlights a recurring pattern of batting inconsistencies during low-scoring encounters.

Also Read: No Handshakes Exchanged After India A vs Pakistan Shaheens Match, Video Tells the Real Story

Despite the criticism surrounding the Eden Gardens pitch, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the surface, calling it a true test of skill and temperament. “It was not an unplayable wicket. This is exactly what we asked for,” said Gambhir during the post-match press conference. He added that the surface rewarded players who showed solid defensive technique, citing Temba Bavuma (55 not out) and Washington Sundar as examples of those who adapted well to the conditions.

Reiterating his faith in the team’s preparation, Gambhir credited the curator Sujan Mukherjee for delivering the intended pitch conditions, emphasizing that majority of the wickets were not taken by spinners but by seamers, making it a balanced contest. He noted that such pitches help assess a player’s mental toughness rather than provide easy scoring opportunities. The loss, however, leaves India trailing 0-1 in the series and in urgent need of a comeback ahead of the second Test.

Also Read: IND vs SA 1st Test: India Need 103 More as Day 3 Tension Rises at Eden Gardens