India, Nov. 16 -- India's fourth innings collapse in Kolkata has left Rishabh Pant grappling with a familiar Test match regret: a chase that looked manageable on paper but spiralled out of control under pressure. Set 124, India were bundled out for 93, handing South Africa a 30-run win and a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.

Speaking after the defeat, the stand-in captain of India admitted the dressing room knew they had let a golden opportunity slip. "We feel a game like this, you can't dwell on it too much. We should have chased this score, but pressure kept building on us in the 2nd innings, and we didn't capitalise enough," Pant said at the post-match presentation.

Pant pointed to the pivotal morning session when Temba Bavuma a...