Post by : Maya Rahman

On the opening day of the first Test at Eden Gardens, India showcased tremendous skill with the ball as Jasprit Bumrah spearheaded the attack, leaving South Africa reeling. Winning the toss, South Africa opted to bat first on a pitch exhibiting unpredictable bounce. Initially, their decision appeared fruitful, with openers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram contributing 57 runs without losing a wicket. However, Bumrah's entry marked a turning point as his lethal movement and precision dismantled the South African batting line-up.

Following a promising start, South Africa's innings crumbled, losing all ten wickets for just 102 runs after reaching 57. Bumrah was the standout performer, claiming 5 wickets for just 27 runs, thus logging his 16th five-wicket haul. Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with two wickets each, while Axar Patel added one, maintaining relentless pressure on South Africa.

Before the collapse, both openers displayed resilience, with Rickelton striking boundaries against Siraj, and Markram punctuating his innings with an impressive six against Axar. Despite showing hope with their 50-run stand, Bumrah swiftly turned the tide, dismissing Rickelton with a sharp delivery and forcing Markram to edge to Rishabh Pant.

Following the fall of the openers, South Africa struggled against the disciplined Indian bowling attack. Temba Bavuma succumbed to Kuldeep's clever strategy, while Dhruv Jurel took a fine catch, sending Bavuma back for just three runs. Mulder and de Zorzi attempted to stabilize the innings, but the Indian bowlers remained relentless.

Post-lunch, Bumrah and Kuldeep maintained their tight line, resulting in Mulder being trapped in front of the stumps. South Africa's decision to review the decision proved futile. Bumrah continued to wreak havoc, trapping de Zorzi, thus exacerbating South Africa's challenges.

Efforts from Stubbs and Verreynne to recover were thwarted by Siraj's incisive bowling, who claimed both in a single over. Axar Patel further contributed by dismissing Corbin Bosch before the tea break, further deepening South Africa's woes.

In the final session, South Africa added a mere five runs as Bumrah wrapped up the innings, dismissing Simon Harmer and trapping Keshav Maharaj lbw shortly after. His mesmerizing display elicited enthusiastic cheers from the Kolkata crowd, witnessing South Africa's total of just 159, marking their second-lowest first-innings score against India.

As Day 1 concluded, India found themselves in a powerful position, thanks to Bumrah's stellar performance and the support of his teammates. The team aims to capitalize on their advantage with a solid batting display when play resumes on Day 2.