India, Nov. 16 -- India slumped to a deflating defeat on a treacherous Eden Gardens surface, losing the first Test to South Africa after collapsing in pursuit of a modest 124 in Kolkata. What appeared a straightforward chase quickly unravelled into a full-blown crisis as Simon Harmer spearheaded a ruthless South African attack that sliced through a fragile batting line-up already weakened by the absence of injured captain Shubman Gill.

In under three days, just over 400 runs and all 40 wickets painted the picture of a surface flirting with the unplayable, and of a visiting side that handled the chaos far better. Temba Bavuma's gritty fifty, Jasprit Bumrah's five-wicket burst, Harmer's decisive spell, and Washington Sundar's resistance al...