Overview
- South Africa went 1–0 up by defending 124 in Kolkata, bowling India out for 93 as the Test ended inside eight sessions with 38 wickets falling.
- Gautam Gambhir said the surface was "exactly the pitch we were looking for," with CAB confirming the curator followed team instructions, including not watering for four days.
- Anil Kumble and Dale Steyn disputed Gambhir's claim of "no demons," Ravichandran Ashwin called the preparation "quite dangerous," and Harbhajan Singh and Kris Srikkanth condemned the strategy of rank turners.
- Critics including Cheteshwar Pujara and Wasim Jaffer urged a return to more balanced 'Kohli-era' tracks, arguing early turn reduces contests to chance and narrows India's home advantage.
- India have lost four of their last six home Tests under Gambhir and dropped to fourth in the WTC standings, with Shubman Gill's neck spasm leaving his availability for the November 22 Guwahati Test uncertain.