India suffered a humiliating defeat by 30 runs against South Africa in the first Test of the ongoing two-match series played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, November 16. In reply to the target of 124 runs set by the Proteas, India could only manage to score 93 runs in 35 overs. Simon Harmer picked up four wickets for the visitors, and two Indian batters each were sent back to the pavilion by Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj.
After India lost a Test match against South Africa in India after more than 15 years, former England skipper Michael Vaughan took to X to post a tweet via which he slammed India for preparing a controversial wicket.
According to Vaughan, India deserved to lose against the World Test Champions after preparing a pitch like
‘that’.
“Prepare a pitch like that and you deserve to lose against the World Test champs …. brilliant win by SA …. #INDvSA,” Vaughan tweeted on Sunday afternoon.
The pitch that was used for the first Test came under the spotlight after players from both teams struggled to score runs. The Proteas made a positive start in the match after Temba Bavuma opted to bat first, but after Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Ryan Rickelton on the third ball of the 11th over, things changed, and after 57/0 in 10.2 overs, the Proteas got all out for 159 in 55 overs.
Indian batters were expected to do better, but they also failed to deliver and were bowled out in their first innings for just 189 runs in 62.2 overs. Simon Harmer picked up four wickets for the visitors, and no Indian batter was even able to touch the 40-run mark.
In South Africa’s second innings, Temba Bavuma remained unbeaten on 56 runs, but his other teammates failed to step up, and the Proteas got all out for 153 runs in 54 overs.
India were asked to chase down the target of 124 runs in their fourth innings to win the Kolkata Test, but the hosts could only manage to score 93 runs in 35 overs. Harmer once again accounted for the dismissal of four Indian batters, and in the process, he also broke the record of taking the most Test wickets in India by a South African spinner.
