Overview
- India were bowled out for 93 chasing 124 on a sharply turning, inconsistent Eden Gardens pitch as South Africa sealed a 30-run win inside three days.
- Off-spinner Simon Harmer took eight wickets across the Test to win player of the match, leading a disciplined attack that also featured key strikes from Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj.
- Captain Temba Bavuma anchored South Africa with an unbeaten 55, the match’s only fifty, stretching the second-innings lead to 123 with help from Corbin Bosch.
- The surface drew heavy criticism from former players, yet head coach Gautam Gambhir said the wicket was exactly what India requested and argued the chase was manageable, with Rishabh Pant acknowledging India failed to handle the pressure.
- Shubman Gill was hospitalised with a neck spasm and did not bat in the fourth innings as South Africa moved to second in the World Test Championship standings, with the second Test set for November 22 in Guwahati.