South AfricaThe 30-run win over India in the opening Test at Eden Gardens has sparked heated debate over the condition of the pitch. dale steyn Offering one of the harshest criticisms. While India’s coach Gautam Gambhir While insisting that there was ‘no devil’ in the wicket, Steyn directly contradicted him and described the surface as unpredictable, uneven and extremely difficult to bat on. His comments have added new intensity to the discussion about pitch preparation after the match ends in three days.
Dale Steyn calls out ‘demons’ on Eden Gardens pitch
Reacting to India’s collapse while chasing the target of 124, Steyn strongly disagreed with Gambhir’s defense of the wicket. He pointed to several instances where the ball behaved abnormally – one moment it spun rapidly past the bat, the next the ball dropped or slid onto the pad. Steyn explained that such inconsistencies leave batsmen with no realistic scoring options, forcing them to resort to pure defence.
“They said there weren’t monsters in the pitch? I certainly saw a lot. When batsmen don’t have the option to score runs, using defense becomes the biggest key. It means it’s really hard to bat.” Stan said on JioHotstar.
he separated Temba Bavuma And washington beautiful As the only player who showed solid application he also said that he looked weak throughout the match.
“Even they looked like they could be out at any time; they had a number on one ball. This wicket definitely has demons in it. Any Test match that ends within three days definitely has some demons in it.” Added Stan.
How South Africa defeated India in Kolkata Test
Despite being bowled out for 159 in their first innings, South Africa bounced back through disciplined bowling and composed batting in challenging conditions. India managed to score 189 runs in reply but failed to take a significant lead.
The turning point of the match came in the third innings when South Africa scored 153 runs with the help of captain Bavuma’s unbeaten 55, the only half-century in the Test. His ability to understand conditions and play for long periods proved decisive.
Chasing 124, India were expected to take the game, but the South African attack excelled in discipline and composure. The Indian top order collapsed, losing wickets in clusters due to sharp turn and uneven bounce. with the captain Shubman Gill Unavailable to bat due to a neck injury, the middle order lacked stability and was bundled out for 93 runs in just 35 overs.
The seamers and spinners shared the damage, but what stood out was South Africa’s relentless pressure and clarity in understanding the conditions better than the hosts. The win is South Africa’s first Test win in India in 15 years and gives them a 1–0 lead in the two-match series.
Also read: Fans rejoice as South Africa ends 15-year drought with stunning win over India in first Test
