On a green-tinged Eden Gardens pitch where survival itself felt like an achievement, Ravindra Jadeja single-handedly altered the flow of the Kolkata Test. What began as a worrying morning for India ended as a day of total domination, thanks to the lethal spin pairing of Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
After just two days, the match has tilted decisively in India’s favour—despite South Africa holding a small lead.
India resumed at 38 for 1, with KL Rahul and Washington Sundar batting cautiously against the unpredictable bounce. Sundar’s towering six off Keshav Maharaj hinted at a recovery, but the momentum evaporated immediately after the interval.
Simon Harmer broke through by removing Sundar, and in the same over, Shubman Gill was forced to retire hurt with neck pain.
Rahul and Rishabh Pant briefly counterattacked, both hitting sixes, yet the Maharaj–Harmer spin duo repeatedly applied pressure. With Gill unable to return, India were bowled out for 189, securing only a 30-run lead—a total that looked insufficient on a testing surface.
But India’s spinners made that modest lead look enormous.
Just before tea, Kuldeep produced a stunning delivery to dismiss Ryan Rickelton. What followed was a spellbinding Jadeja show.
In a sensational burst, he removed Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, and Tony de Zorzi—reducing South Africa to 40 for 4.
Captain Temba Bavuma tried to counter with a few boundaries, but Jadeja’s wicked turn castled Tristan Stubbs and broke their resistance. Axar Patel then trapped Kyle Verreynne, and although Marco Jansen briefly countered with a six, Kuldeep ended his stay soon after.
By stumps, India stood fully in command.
