Overview
- At stumps on Day 2, South Africa were 93 for 7 with a lead of 63, and multiple reports projected a likely Day 3 conclusion with India in control.
- Ravindra Jadeja’s 4 for 29 and Kuldeep Yadav’s 2 for 12 exploited sharp turn and variable bounce as 11 wickets fell on Day 1 and 15 more on Day 2.
- Stump-mic audio captured Rishabh Pant urging Kuldeep to go around the wicket into the rough, a ploy that led to Marco Jansen edging to a low, diving catch by KL Rahul.
- Harbhajan Singh labeled the pitch a ‘mockery’ of Test cricket, with other commentators also condemning the surface as India’s return to Test cricket at Eden Gardens after six years came under scrutiny.
- Shubman Gill left the field with a neck spasm and underwent precautionary scans, with Pant deputising on-field as India pressed for a small fourth-innings chase.