South Africa stunned India with a dramatic 30-run win in the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday (November 16). South Africa ended its 15-year wait for a Test win on Indian soil by achieving a thrilling win on the third day of the Kolkata Test.
On a turning pitch at Eden Gardens, an easy chase of 124 turned into a nightmare as India were bowled out for just 93 and South Africa took a 1-0 lead in the ongoing first Test on Sunday. They were already without their captain Shubman Gill, who missed the match due to neck surgery.
South Africa end 15-year drought in India with a stunning 30-run win at Eden Gardens
And then the tricky pitch made it difficult for the Indian batsmen to play every ball. Earlier, South Africa had prepared for their battle with captain Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten 55, the only half-century of the match, as well as a crucial 44-run partnership with Corbin Bosch, keeping their hopes alive at the Eden Gardens.
Also read: “This pitch is what we want…” – Gautam Gambhir reveals the truth about the Eden Gardens pitch after the defeat
The South African bowlers took complete control while defending 124 runs. Simon Harmer bowled a brilliant spell, taking four wickets, while Marco Jensen, Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj struck with timely strikes to tear apart India’s batting line-up to give them a memorable win.
With this shameful defeat, the Indian team reached a new historic low. The target of 124 runs became the second lowest target that India has failed to achieve in Test cricket. The target of 120 against West Indies at Bridgetown in 1997 is the lowest target achieved by the Indian team in the traditional format of the game.
After this, he scored 147 runs against New Zealand at Wankhede in 2024, 176 runs against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2015, 193 runs against England at Lord’s in 2025 and 194 runs against England at Edgbaston in 2018.
India failed to achieve lowest target in Tests:
120 against West Indies at Bridgetown in 1997
124 runs against South Africa at Eden Gardens, 2025
147 runs against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium, 2024
176 runs against Sri Lanka in Galle, 2015
193 runs against England at Lord’s, 2025
194 runs, 201 against England at Edgbaston
Meanwhile, South Africa’s remarkable win at the Eden Gardens has now gone into the record books as the second lowest total defended in a Test match on Indian soil. His successful defense of 124 against India stands out among some rare and remarkable performances.
Also read: Rishabh Pant told the real reason for India’s defeat in Kolkata Test!
The lowest defended target in India is Australia’s effort at the Wankhede Stadium in 2004, where they defended just 107 runs. New Zealand also had a memorable win by defending 147 runs at the same venue in 2024. Another famous example came in 1996, when India defended 170 against South Africa in Ahmedabad.
India’s lowest total successfully defended in Tests:
107: India vs Australia at Wankhede Stadium, 2004
124: South Africa vs India, Eden Gardens, 2025
147: New Zealand vs India, Wankhede Stadium, 2024
170: India vs South Africa, Ahmedabad, 1996
Additionally, the Indian cricket team has recently lost four of its six Test matches on home soil. This is a huge decline in India’s dominance in the traditional format of the game, especially considering that between 2015 and 2022, India lost only two home Tests.
