South Africa edged India by 30 runs in a tense, low-scoring Test match that finished inside three days at Eden Gardens on Sunday, with off-spinner Simon Harmer delivering a match-winning spell to seal their first Test victory in India in 15 years.
He was named Player of the Match for his match-winning eight-wicket haul, taking 4-30 in the first innings and 4-21 in the second.
Their previous win in the country came in Nagpur in 2010, when the Proteas, led by Graeme Smith, defeated the hosts by an innings and six runs.
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It is also India’s first defeat at the venue since 2012, when England, led by Alastair Cook, claimed a seven-wicket victory.
It was also India’s fourth Test defeat at home in their last six matches.
Home captain Shubman Gill was taken to the hospital with neck spasms and could not return to bat, leaving his team struggling while chasing 124 on day three in Kolkata.
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Harmer produced outstanding figures of 4-21, breaking the back of India’s chase of 124 as the home side were bowled out for just 93 in front of nearly 40,000 spectators.
His sharp turn and control proved too much for India’s middle order, helping the Proteas secure a historic victory.
South Africa began day three under pressure at 93-7 in their second innings after conceding a 30-run deficit earlier in the match.
However, captain Temba Bavuma stood tall with a determined and composed innings.
Bavuma finished unbeaten on 55 off 136 balls, the only half-century of the match, showing remarkable patience on a surface offering inconsistent bounce and turn.
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Corbin Bosch supported him with a fighting 25 before Jasprit Bumrah ended the resistance and cleaned up the tail with Mohammad Siraj, leaving India with a modest target to chase.
India’s reply unraveled quickly, made worse by captain Shubman Gill being unable to bat after retiring hurt in the first innings.
Marco Jansen struck twice inside his first seven deliveries, sending back Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck and KL Rahul for just one, putting India on the back foot immediately.
Harmer then took control, removing Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant in quick succession to leave India reeling at 38-4.
He later trapped Ravindra Jadeja lbw for 18, tightening South Africa’s grip on the contest.
Aiden Markram provided another crucial breakthrough by dismissing Washington Sundar, who had fought hard for his 31 runs.
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Although Axar Patel attempted a brief counterattack, hitting two sixes on his way to 26, India’s resistance faded.
The Proteas celebrated a hard-fought win, powered by Harmer’s brilliance and Bavuma’s resolve, sealing a memorable start to the two-match series.
Former cricketers, including India’s Irfan Pathan and Pakistan’s Rashid Latif, along with cricketing legend AB de Villiers, congratulated South Africa on this brilliant win.
With this win, South Africa, the 2025 WTC champions, moved to second in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 points table with two wins in three matches and a PCT of 66.67%.
India slipped to fourth, with four wins and a draw in eight matches and a PCT of 54.17%.
Meanwhile, Australia, the runners-up in the previous WTC cycle, sit at the top of the table with three wins in three matches and a perfect PCT of 100%.
Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and England are placed third, fifth, and sixth with PCTs of 66.67%, 50%, and 43.33% respectively.
