Trecherous pitch sees 15 wkts tumble on day2 as India close in on an early win in 1st test

 

Jasprit Bumrah claimed a superb five-wicket haul in the first innings, while Ravindra Jadeja has already picked up four in the second. South Africa’s spinner Simon Harmer, too, has pocketed four wickets. Remarkably, not a single batter has managed even a half-century so far in this Eden Gardens Test. At this rate, the match looks almost certain to finish on the third day itself—thanks largely to Eden’s treacherously “orderly” pitch. Some deliveries are shooting low, some are leaping unexpectedly, and others are turning sharply to shatter the stumps.

By stumps on Day 2, South Africa were 93 for 7, leading by 63 runs. A staggering 15 wickets tumbled in a single day—India losing 8 (with Gill unable to bat) and South Africa 7. If India fail to wrap up the South African innings quickly on Day 3, trouble awaits, because they too will have to chase on this unpredictable surface.

Yet Gambhir’s brigade cannot breathe easy. The Eden pitch can turn “self-destructive” at any moment. No one imagined that responding to Gambhir’s demand for more spin would result in such a volatile surface. Temba Bavuma and Corbin Bosch are still at the crease for South Africa, and if their captain Bavuma produces a substantial knock on Sunday morning, the pressure could flip back onto India. But if Jadeja and his spin attack strike early, the chase could become easier for the Indians—provided Gill recovers from his neck injury, which remains uncertain.

South Africa were bowled out for 159 in the first innings, to which India replied with 189, securing a modest 30-run lead. Jansen picked up three wickets, while Harmer snared four. Bumrah’s pace and bounce dismantled South Africa, but the Proteas were no less equipped—armed with a towering pacer like Marco Jansen and a wily spinner like Harmer. On Gambhir’s demanding pitch, they appeared almost superlative, exposing India’s vulnerable batting.

India were forced to bat on the very first day and ended the evening at 37 for 1. With Bumrah’s five-wicket burst rattling South Africa earlier, Shubman Gill and his men looked comfortably ahead. But Day 2 brought a dramatic reversal of fortunes—this time it was India who folded under pressure.

Washington Sundar and KL Rahul, the two unbeaten batters from the previous day, began steadily, showing admirable patience against the early South African pace attack. Just when it appeared that the pair had weathered the initial storm and were on course to build a significant partnership, Sundar fell to Simon Harmer’s lethal turn. Batting at No. 3 for the first time, the all-rounder crafted a hard-fought 29 off 82 balls—valuable on Eden’s sharply turning track.

But India suffered a far heavier blow soon after. Captain Shubman Gill, in excellent form, walked in only to face three deliveries before a neck injury forced him off the field. He never returned to bat.

Rahul’s dismissal mirrored Sundar’s—same kind of ball, same kind of mistake, only this time it was left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj instead of Harmer. Rahul departed for 39, which ultimately stood as India’s highest score.

Gill’s absence brought vice-captain Rishabh Pant to the crease, and he initially looked in his element. But even he misread the unpredictable bounce of the Eden surface. He attempted a shot at a rising delivery from Corbin Bosch and only managed an edge to keeper Kyle Verreynne, falling for 27. India reached lunch at 138 for 4.

After the interval, wickets kept tumbling. Dhruv Jurel (14) became another victim of Harmer’s precision. Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel added 20 gritty runs, but Jadeja was trapped LBW by Harmer for 27—DRS couldn’t save him either. Following quick dismissals of Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel (16) had no choice but to attack. When he too perished, India’s innings ended at 189.

South Africa’s troubles, however, began soon after. In the seventh over, Ryan Rickelton (11) was trapped LBW by a delivery from Kuldeep Yadav that skidded alarmingly low. Just an over later, Aiden Markram (4) miscued a sweep off Jadeja and was caught. Wiaan Mulder (11) fell in the slips to Jadeja, followed by Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs, both victims of Jadeja again—taking him to his 250th Test wicket. Kyle Verreynne was dismissed by Axar Patel. Jansen (13) attempted a counterattack, only to edge one to slip off Kuldeep’s sharp turn. Bavuma (29*) continues to fight on. Jadeja has 4 for 29, Kuldeep has two, and Axar one.

Now the real intrigue awaits on Day 3—how long the match lasts, and more importantly, what the cricket fraternity has to say about the dramatic Eden pitch.