On day two, when Eden Gardens behaved more like an aging subcontinental surface than the balanced track it was billed to be, Ravindra Jadeja sliced through South Africa’s middle order with a scintillating four-wicket burst that left the visitors scrambling for stability.
India’s first innings were bowled out for 189 in 62.2 overs, their 30-run lead feeling more like a modest cushion than any real authority, but Jadeja’s spell transformed the afternoon and revealed how far the pitch had strayed from the close contest Sourav Ganguly had promised ahead of the Test.
At stumps, South Africa reeled at 93 for 7, their lead a fragile 63. Jadeja’s 4 for 29 included the wickets of Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs, each dismissal tightening India’s grip as the surface became increasingly unpredictable. Captain Temba Bavuma held on with a composed 29 not out and Corbin Bosch kept him company at the other end, but the visitors left knowing the match had swung sharply in India’s direction.
From the very first ball of the match, the batsmen were pushed into survival mode. The uneven bounce, already noticeable on Friday morning, never loosened the steering. At no point did the belt offer a sense of predictability and required constant adjustment and unwavering concentration from anyone who went to bat.
By the time Jadeja took the lead on Saturday afternoon, the pattern had already been set. The wickets fell in bunches, the pitch looked dry from ball one and grew more vicious as the match progressed. The most troubling variable came from one particular end, where the bounce seemed to have a mind of its own, with one exit rising sharply and the other barely rising above the ankle.
On such a surface, South Africa’s attempts at resistance were inevitably short-lived and Jadeja, always attuned to the slightest changes in conditions, ensured India gained the advantage with clinical precision.
India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 2: HIGHLIGHTS
Kuldeep Yadav delivered a decisive knock before tea, removing Ryan Rickelton to leave South Africa 18 for 1 in 6.4 overs. In a small but telling tactical tweak, Axar Patel rather than Mohammed Siraj shared the new ball and he settled in quickly, conceding just five runs in his three overs. Kuldeep’s breakthrough came in the final over before the break: a quicker, fuller ball that swung in from off and straight to Rickelton lbw. South Africa went to tea at 18 for 1, still 12 runs behind.
The session after the break belonged entirely to Jadeja. His second delivery, bowled over mid-on, drew a clumsy flick from Aiden Markram that curled off the top edge to Dhruv Jurel at short leg. Both openers were dismissed in consecutive overs from the same end and Rishabh Pant’s decision to stick with Jadeja bore immediate fruit. Down to 25 for 2, South Africa are still five behind, leaving Temba Bavuma and Wiaan Mulder to rebuild. The atmosphere at Eden Gardens grew increasingly charged as Jadeja, gliding in rhythm from the Clubhouse End, even pushed Jasprit Bumrah into the quieter High Court End.
Bavuma and Mulder tried to steady the innings but Jadeja needed little help from the surface to take two more wickets at the same spot. A fine length ball pierced Mulder’s edge and slotted into Pant’s gloves and two balls later Tony de Zorzi was hit by the faintest of spin which clipped the glove, kissed the pad and popped up at short leg. With three wickets to his name, Jadeja was buzzing. South Africa were reduced to 46 for 4, essentially 16 for 4, with Tristan Stubbs joining Bavum with 26 overs to go in the day.
Jadeja then produced his best moment. A slight shift in foot placement opened up a wider angle and led Stubbs to play the wrong line. The ball angled to a good length, straightened just enough, beat the outside edge and kissed the off stump. At first, Stubbs thought the appeal was for a stumble, until Pant’s gentle tap told him otherwise. Jadeja was four and India strengthened when Kyle Verreynne walked in with the sun setting behind the stands.
Verreynne survived fifteen balls before choosing the wrong moment – and the wrong shot – to break free. Axar landed one on the stumps and a sloppy haul sent him on his way. The cameras panned to Ashwell Prince and his expression told the story. The last recognized dough was gone. Axar almost struck again when Marco Jansen was caught lbw but the review spared him.
Kuldeep’s late strike to finally remove Jansen capped a day that swung firmly in India’s direction. Siraj was not needed in the second innings; the spinners dictated the conditions and Jadeja led the dismantling as South Africa held on. A session shaped by tension, poor judgment and an increasingly influential surface is over.
HARMER GIVES HOPE
India’s innings is officially closed at nine wickets as Shubman Gill, who had gone off earlier injured with a neck spasm sustained while attempting a sweep, has not returned. His absence only added to the feeling that the day had slipped out of India’s hands.
Harmer, however, was the story of the afternoon. He bowled unchanged from the Clubhouse End in 14.2 overs to finish with an excellent 4 for 30. Drift, subtle variations in pace, careful lines and a sense of total control were reminiscent of Ravichandran Ashwin on surfaces offering even a hint of help. India fielded six left-handers for the first time in Test history and Harmer targeted them one by one. Washington Sundar was dismissed for 29, Jadeja for 27 and Axar for 16.
Washington struggled for 82 balls and Jadeja and Axar made their mark off 45 deliveries each. Still, Harmer kept tightening the screws. On a rapidly crumbling surface, even minor misjudgments proved fatal. The ball dipped, gripped and straightened, and the lefties moved closer to danger with each over.
Marco Jansen superbly supported Harmer from the High Court End and used his steep rebound to polish off the tail. His 3 for 35 included the quick dismissals of Kuldeep and Mohammed Siraj, two knocks that precipitated India’s slide from a steady 138 for 4 at lunch.
There was a moment when the afternoon seemed ready for a change. Buoyed by four hundreds in five domestic matches, Dhruv Jurel arrived with sharp timing and confidence. He blasted Corbin Bosch for two boundaries in three balls, one a late cut thread past backward point, the other a smooth cover drive. The spark was short lived. Harmer challenged him to drive uphill and the chipped back catch was pulled low and clean.
Jadeja was looking composed with three tight boundaries before a delivery slipped through and pushed him in front. Axar’s determined stay came to an end when he clipped Jansen to the back point, another example of the pressure Harmer kept building.
Another thrilling day of Test cricket ended with the match still finely balanced, although India held a slender 60-40 edge. Will they be able to cut through the remaining wickets and chase down the target? With the pitch unpredictable and the dynamic ever-changing, South Africa remain just one strong session away from turning the contest around and a tense conclusion to what should be the final day.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 15, 2025
