South Africa’s 30-run win over India in the first test of 2025-26 felt like a movie to me, as this was the first time in history South Africa won a test in India. In the second inning of the game, when India had 93 runs for seven wickets, it appeared that they would get a very modest total and another Indian win at Eden Gardens in front of their fans. However, with his team struggling against the Indian bowlers and the pressure of being expected to perform well, Temba Bavuma produced a 55 (not out) that changed a desperate situation to a base for a win for South Africa.
Bavuma’s Solo Stand Defies the Odds
Few would be willing to wager that the captain will turn the tide of the game when his team is down by seven runs and the lead is less than fifty. The partnership between Corbin Bosch and Bavuma may have been unremarkable in terms of its strike rate; however, it had been methodical as well as successful for the two batsmen. While Bosch’s sweep shots to Jadeja and Kuldeep helped push the lead beyond one hundred, it was Bavuma’s level-headedness while being put under extreme pressure that kept the batting effort intact. Bavuma’s ability to deal with spin bowling, leave balls wisely, and capitalize on loose deliveries was reminiscent of many of the successful “rescue” efforts of South Africa’s previous captains, such as Graeme Smith, when South Africa has batted on very difficult pitches; a testament that sometimes, a captain’s temperament is superior to their skill.
Harmer’s Spin: The Silent Assassin
When Bavuma was batting, Harmer was slicing through India as if he were a surgeon with a scalpel. He took 4 wickets in each of India’s two innings; his left-arm spin put on display India’s weakness to variations on a surface that is not by nature conducive to spin. The dismissal of Jadeja and Washington Sundar during key moments is indicative of a larger strategic success: attacking the feet and patience instead of pace or bounce. Historically, it has been rare for South Africa’s spin bowlers to be dominant in Asia; however, Harmer’s measured length and slight drift give him similarities to the trailblazing bowling of Hugh Tayfield many years ago.
Indian Batting: Fragility Under Pressure
In what turned out to be a disastrous beginning for India’s chase was when Yashasvi Jaiswal was bowled in the first over, followed by another early dismissal of KL Rahul for low scores. Washington Sundar scored a gritty 31 for a brief moment of hope; however, after his departure, the rest of the Indian batting lineup was reduced to being defeated against very disciplined leg spin bowling. The dismissals of both Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel were reflective of how it wasn’t solely the playing surface that caused them to lose; it was also poor shot selection under high pressure, as they could never seem to form long-lasting partnerships. Without having the presence of Shubman Gill on the field, India had no choice but to continue struggling to build large partnerships, as South Africa not only successfully bowled well through their entire match, but they also emotionally owned the run chase.
Turnaround Tactics: Spin, Patience, Pressure
This game exemplified how using spin effectively can be used to put pressure on an opponent by making them commit mistakes, and capitalize on opportunities when the opponent decides to try and speed up play. It wasn’t through explosive batting or ferocious pace that South Africa created pressure; it was through building pressure through error-inducing bowling and capitalizing on the times India attempted to do so at a faster rate. The intelligent catching of Aiden Markram and the last ball of Maharaj were the exclamation points on a strategic message: mental toughness can win games of cricket as much as the physical act of playing the game, as much as anything else, at Eden Gardens.
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