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

South Africa’s spinners clawed their means again into the competition with a stirring fightback within the second hour, as India slipped from a place of management to achieve 138 for 4 at lunch on day two of the opening Test on the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata on Saturday (November 15, 2025).

Resuming at 37 for 1, India appeared strong by a resolute stand between KL Rahul and Washington Sundar, who survived a demanding first hour in opposition to pacer Marco Jansen’s hostility and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj’s probing accuracy.

The pair added 57 for the second wicket, elevating their fifty stand off 152 balls, compact in defence and composed in opposition to the odd ball that kicked or turned.

The guests, defending a paltry first innings 159, discovered a means again by the sustained strain from Maharaj and off-spinner Simon Harmer, who mixed for management, chew and key breakthroughs to tug their aspect firmly into the competition.

The complexion of the session flipped dramatically after the drinks break, courtesy veteran off-spinner Simon Harmer, who opened the floodgates in a defining thirty fifth over.

First, Harmer eliminated a well-set Sundar for 29 off 82 balls (2×4, 1×6) with a classical off-spinner’s dismissal — drifting the ball in and turning it away from the left-hander to attract the surface edge, pouched by Aiden Markram at slip.

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

The India captain appeared to undergo a whiplash within the follow-through, clutching the nape of his neck earlier than strolling off grimacing. The BCCI is but to problem an replace on the severity of his harm.

Maharaj, bowling a marathon 16-over spell, then struck to take away Rahul, who had simply tried to up the tempo.

The opener, in a single day 13, reached 4000 Test runs within the morning however fell for 39 off 119 balls (4×4, 1×6), guiding one softly to Markram at slip because the ball turned and stayed low. The third umpire confirmed the catch.

Just as India hoped to regular by Rishabh Pant’s counterpunch — the left-hander smashing Maharaj for a straight six, one other over long-on and unfurling a reverse sweep on his technique to 27 off 24 balls (2×4, 2×6) — rookie pacer Corbin Bosch delivered a vital strike moments earlier than lunch.

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

At the break, India have been formally 138/4, however successfully 5 down with Gill’s return not clear. Ravindra Jadeja additionally accomplished 4000 runs in Test cricket. He is simply fifth cricketer in Test historical past with a double of 4000 runs and 300 plus wickets.