IND vs SA first Test: South Africa fights back as India slump to 138/4 at lunch

South Africa’s spinners clawed their mode backmost into the contention with a stirring fightback successful the 2nd hour, arsenic India slipped from a presumption of power to scope 138 for 4 astatine luncheon connected time 2 of the opening Test astatine the Eden Gardens, successful Kolkata connected Saturday (November 15, 2025).

Resuming astatine 37 for 1, India appeared coagulated done a resolute basal betwixt KL Rahul and Washington Sundar, who survived a demanding archetypal hr against pacer Marco Jansen’s hostility and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj’s probing accuracy.

The brace added 57 for the 2nd wicket, raising their 50 basal disconnected 152 balls, compact successful defence and composed against the unusual shot that kicked oregon turned.

The visitors, defending a paltry archetypal innings 159, recovered a mode backmost done the sustained unit from Maharaj and off-spinner Simon Harmer, who combined for control, wound and cardinal breakthroughs to resistance their broadside firmly into the contest.

The complexion of the league flipped dramatically aft the drinks break, courtesy seasoned off-spinner Simon Harmer, who opened the floodgates successful a defining 35th over.

First, Harmer removed a well-set Sundar for 29 disconnected 82 balls (2x4, 1x6) with a classical off-spinner’s dismissal -- drifting the shot successful and turning it distant from the left-hander to gully the extracurricular edge, pouched by Aiden Markram astatine slip.

Three balls later, Shubman Gill retired wounded for a three-ball 4 pursuing a slog-sweeping Harmer for a boundary.

The India skipper appeared to endure a whiplash successful the follow-through, clutching the nape of his cervix earlier walking disconnected grimacing. The BCCI is yet to contented an update connected the severity of his injury.

Maharaj, bowling a marathon 16-over spell, past struck to region Rahul, who had conscionable tried to up the tempo.

The opener, overnight 13, reached 4000 Test runs successful the greeting but fell for 39 disconnected 119 balls (4x4, 1x6), guiding 1 softly to Markram astatine gaffe arsenic the shot turned and stayed low. The 3rd umpire confirmed the catch.

Just arsenic India hoped to dependable done Rishabh Pant's counterpunch — the left-hander smashing Maharaj for a consecutive six, different implicit long-on and unfurling a reverse expanse connected his mode to 27 disconnected 24 balls (2x4, 2x6) — rookie pacer Corbin Bosch delivered a important onslaught moments earlier lunch.

Pant fell to a well-directed bouncer from Corbin Bosch, giving South Africa a bonus wicket to adjacent the session.

At the break, India were officially 138/4, but efficaciously 5 down with Gill's instrumentality not clear. Ravindra Jadeja besides completed 4000 runs successful Test cricket. He is lone 5th cricketer successful Test past with a treble of 4000 runs and 300 positive wickets.