IND vs SA 2025: Rishabh Pant says India should have chased 124 in Kolkata

Standby captain Rishabh Pant feels India should have managed to chase down the target set by South Africa during the first Test which the hosts eventually lost by 30 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

124 became the second-lowest target India failed to chase down in their Test cricket history.

Pant admitted that the Indian batters were not able to make the most of the conditions despite conditions favouring the bowlers throughout the match. While the wicketkeeper-batter admitted that the target was a tricky one keeping the pitch in mind, he placed the onus on the batting unit for not being able to deal with the pressure.

"After a game like this, you can't dwell into it too much. We should have been able to chase it. The pressure kept on building. We didn't capitalise enough. There was help from the wicket (for the bowlers)," stated Pant at the post-match presentation.

"A score of 120 can be tricky on these surfaces. But having said that, we should have been able to soak in the pressure and capitalise. We haven't thought about the improvements but we will come back strong for sure. Temba and Bosch had a good stand in the morning. That partnership between them hurt us," Pant added.

Indiawere bowled out for 93 in 35 overs while chasing 124. The Proteas took the lead going into the second Test, which will be played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Simon Harmer (4/30 and 4/21) was awarded the Player of the Match award for his excellent display of spin bowling.

Speaking of Pant, he scored 27 off 24 and 2 off 13 in the first and the second innings, respectively. This was his first international match after the England tour, in which a foot injury during the fourth match in Manchester ruled the left-handed batter for a few months.

The second and final match of the series will now be played at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati - a venue that will be hosting its first-ever Test. India will want to make the encounter memorable with a fighting display to level the series. The win is also important from the World Test Championship point of view, as India have slipped to the fourth place following the Kolkata loss.