🏏South Africa tour of India, 2025: India vs S A,1st Test-Day 2🏏 - Page 11

The going hasn't been easy for India with bat either. South Africa may be without Rabada but they've got enough resources at their disposal to cause some headaches on this up-and-down pitch. They would've loved some more runs on the board though. 159 is asking too much of their bowlers.

Only once has more wickets fallen on the opening day of a Test at Eden Gardens than the 11 today – 13 in the pink-ball Test between India & Bangladesh in 2019.

An applause from the Indian dressing room as Rahul and Washington walk back. Was a tricky phase of play on what has been a tricky pitch. There has been uneven bounce right through and we saw a puff of dust as well in that final over from Maharaj. Enough help for both pace and spin. Having said that, India were brilliant with the ball earlier in the day to bundle South Africa out for just 159. Bumrah led the way with a sensational performance of 5/27, taking wickets with both new ball and old as he targetted the stumps relentlessly. On the other hand, Siraj was wayward with the new ball but once the ball started reversing, he produced a superb spell too. They both shared seven wickets between them while Kuldeep worked his magic for a couple of wickets too.

This Test match has galloped at a rapid speed already with five-star Jasprit Bumrah picking up five wickets on the opening day to skittle South Africa for 159 in 55 overs. India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal to a cut (again), but KL Rahul and Washington Sundar (at No. 3) steadied the ship to take the hosts to 37 for 1. They still trail South Africa by 122 runs, but will be eyeing an early and substantial lead on a surface which is already showing signs of breaking up.

Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are having a close look at the surface. Yashasvi Jaiswal is chatting away with Gautam Gambhir. India entered the first Test with four genuine spinners in the game, a bold new era for home Tests, writes Sid Monga. And while South Africa would have worried largely about the spinners, they were Bumrah-ed on a surface they couldn't 'trust.

India had the near-perfect start to their home test against the reigning WTC champions as Temba Bavuma’s men faltered with the bat after winning the toss at the iconic Eden Gardens. Battered by an invincible Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul, the Proteas folded for 159 before India waded their way to 37 for one before stumps with KL Rahul and Washington Sundar.

Coming into the series, India are third in the World Test Championship standings with 52 points, but having played seven Tests. Meanwhile, defending champions South Africa are fifth with 12 points from two matches.

Anil Kumble on India's combination

“Really surprised at the lineup because I certainly expected Sai Sudarshan to be playing in this Test match. Who’s going to bat at No.3? That will be the question. Washington Sundar has been slotted to bat at No.3 so India will be bowling first. 4 spinners and 2 fast bowlers,” said Kumble on the official broadcast before the start of play.

Shubman Gill at toss yesterday

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.

Dale Steyn on Jasprit Bumrah

“It’s all heart; the guy doesn’t stop. You know, he just carries on going,” Steyn said. “And whenever his captain throws him the ball, he seems to deliver, and he just runs in nonstop. Bowl these long spells. You know, up to 8 overs, 9-over spells. I’ve seen him do it before. And he seems to deliver every time. And depending on the conditions, he’s able to adapt. In the UK, he was swinging the ball beautifully. And he waited for his turn. I mean, he played in all those Test matches and bowled beautifully, and the wickets came for him in the last Test match. A lot of bowlers can become quite despondent, you know. If things are not going your way, you start searching, but he waited and it came good for him in that game. And the same thing happened in this game. He bowled from the far end, where it wasn’t a lot of up and down movement. It wasn’t going his way. He came back and bowled from this side here, got a little bit of reverse swing, picked up two wickets. So his heart is what stands up for me a lot of the time.”

Marco Jansen to Rahul, FOUR, edge and four! 134.1kph, good length delivery in that nagging zone outside off, Rahul sticks his bat out but plays with soft hands. The outside edge.

RSA 159

IND 41/1(20.4)

CRR:1.98

Day 2: 1st Session - India trail by 118 runs

Over 22

0 0 0 0 1 0 (1 runs)

IND 42-1

KL Rahul

17(66)

Washington Sundar

7(43)

Keshav Maharaj

6-1-9-0

They are struggling with this pitch