South Africa overpowers India for victory

South Africa ended a 15-year wait to win a Test match in India as they defeated the hosts by 30 runs in the first Test of the 2025 series. 

The Proteas’ first innings of 159 looked insufficient, though their bowlers kept the contest alive. India’s reply of 189 wasn’t dominant either, as wickets kept tumbling in clusters. 

The real shift arrived in the third innings. South Africa, under pressure again, found stability through Temba Bavuma, who played an unbroken 55 on a pitch that punished anything loose. 

He managed the tempo of the innings, allowing those around him to add bits of support even as the ball gripped and misbehaved. Their total of 153 didn’t appear imposing on paper, but the conditions suggested otherwise. 

India entered their chase without captain Shubman Gill, who was out due to a neck spasm. Marco Jansen gave South Africa the start they needed by removing Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul with chest-high deliveries that hurried both batters. Those early strikes rattled India before the spinners took over.

Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj bowled accurately, forcing errors as the pitch continued to break up. Harmer finished with 4 for 21, Maharaj with 2 for 37, and together they shut down any chance of a late push from the Indian lower order. India were dismissed for 93 in 35 overs, never really settling at any point in the chase.

The pitch quickly became a major talking point, with Harbhajan Singh calling it “a mockery of Test cricket” after 15 wickets fell on day two. 

The sharp turn and uneven bounce throughout the match backed that criticism, but South Africa judged the surface better than the hosts and played accordingly. 

For India, the defeat raises questions before the series shifts to Guwahati later in the month. Their batting never settled across both innings, and their handling of spin was far below the standard usually associated with home conditions.

South Africa, meanwhile, leave Kolkata with confidence, having finally claimed a rare and meaningful win on Indian soil.