The India national cricket team created a rare piece of Test history at the Eden Gardens when the Shubman Gill-led side came out with a lineup unlike anything seen before against the South Africa national cricket team in Kolkata on Friday (November 14).
Currently, India are currently taking on the reigning ICC World Test Championship (WTC) champions, South Africa in the opening match of the two-match Test series at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The hosts have left out Sai Sudarshan from the playing eleven to create a rare lineup for the match.
India creates Test history with six left-handed batsmen at Eden Gardens
For the first time, the Indian Test XI included six left-handed batsmen. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav – all left-handed batsmen – are included in India’s playing XI for the ongoing first Test against South Africa in Kolkata.
Also read: Jasprit Bumrah destroys Kyle Verrey with a deadly yorker on the very first ball at Eden Gardens
The lineup dominated by left-handed batsmen gave the Indian cricket team a unique look never seen in the long history of Indian cricket in the traditional format of the game.
India will play 4 specialist spinners in Test after 12 years
But the surprises didn’t stop here. In fact, India had also fielded four spinners in the Kolkata Test against South Africa. The last time India played four specialist spinners was in December 2012 in a Test match against England in Nagpur.
With Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar all emerging as genuine all-rounders, and Kuldeep Yadav bringing his wrist-spin magic, India have strengthened their bowling attack with spinners for the ongoing first Test against the Proteas at the Eden Gardens.
South Africa collapse after aggressive start against India in Kolkata Test
Meanwhile, South Africa started with confidence in the first innings after winning the big toss, but then suffered a surprise defeat against India. From a strong score of 57 without loss, they could only add 102 more runs, which was their second lowest score in the first innings against India.
Also read: During the first test, Rishabh Pant mercilessly made fun of South African batsmen, exposed a major flaw in their technique.
The start looked perfect for the audience. Openers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram came out aggressively and South Africa looked set for a strong score on a pitch with uneven bounce. But India needed just one breakthrough to turn the script at Eden Gardens.
Jasprit Bumrah endured a lengthy test run in the first spell and eventually broke the partnership in his sixth over. Bumrah sent both the openers back to the dressing room, and then captain Temba Bavuma was also out for just 3 runs, leaving South Africa at 71 for 3 against India in the Kolkata Test.
The middle order tried to fight. Vianne Mulder (24), Tony De Zorzi (24), and Kyle Vereen (16) all looked promising; They all got starts, but they all got out in much the same fashion and India kept the pressure on the Proteas at the Eden Gardens.
After tea, Bumrah took the last two wickets with pinpoint accuracy as South Africa were all out for just 159 in their first innings in the first Test against India in Kolkata. Bumrah took an impressive 5/27 for 14 runs, while Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav managed to take two wickets each against South Africa at the Eden Gardens.
