Who said what – top 5 expert reactions on India’s shock defeat in IND vs SA 2025 1st Test ft. Harbhajan Singh

India lost to the World Test Champions, South Africa, by 30 runs in their opening Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, November 16. The hosts failed to chase down 124 runs on the turning track, succumbing inside two sessions for 94 in the second innings. With the loss, they also fell 0-1 behind in the two-match Test series. Interestingly, this was India’s fourth loss at home since a 0-3 whitewash by New Zealand last year.

Batting first, the Proteas put up 159 in their first innings. Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the leading wicket-taker with a fifer, while Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav bagged two wickets apiece.

In response, India put 189 in their first innings, managing a 30-run lead. Simon Harmer starred with the ball, returning with a four-wicket haul, while Marco Jansen picked up three wickets.

In the second innings, South Africa scored 153 runs to set a 124-run target for India in the fourth innings. Skipper Temba Bavuma scored the only fifty of the game, staying unbeaten on 55 off 136 deliveries. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the Indian bowlers, bagging four wickets. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj shared two apiece.

In the fourth innings, Harmer again spun a web for the Indian batters, bagging his second four-fer of the match. Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen shared two wickets apiece.

Notably, Shubman Gill didn’t bat in the second innings after getting retired hurt for four in the first innings due to neck stiffness. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant took over the leadership duty in the second innings.

Following the loss, several former cricketers, including Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, and Cheteshwar Pujara, slammed India for their declining performances at home.

Who said what – top 5 expert reactions on India’s shock defeat in IND vs SA 2025 1st Test ft. Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh slammed the team management for playing on a rank turner as the match ended inside three days. By citing the examples of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, the legendary spinner urged the team to play on better pitches following their heroics in England. He said on his YouTube channel:

“It is sad to see the Test cricket situation, the way Test cricket is being played. Matches are ending in two and a half days. For me, this is shocking, shocking. And this is not changing. I do not know for what reason. We have just lost matches against New Zealand, and now again at home, this kind of pitch has been made.”

“We went to England and played such good cricket there, and once they came home again, the same useless work. What is the difference then? Why are we doing this? I do not understand. You have such a good team. Your batting is solid. Your bowling, your spin department is solid. Your fast bowling, you have solid fast bowlers, Bumrah, Siraj. What else do you need? Even if not in two and a half days, you will win in five days. But at least make good pitches. What is even happening? It is beyond my understanding,” he added.

Anil Kumble

Former India captain Anil Kumble slammed stand-in captain Rishabh Pant for his on-field decisions for not starting with Jasprit Bumrah on Day 3. The legendary spinner stressed that the Proteas lost their remaining three wickets on the day to pacers. He told JioStar post-match (via PTI):

“A target of 123 was a bit too much. When the day started, South Africa were 63 for 7 and that was the lead. Temba Bavuma was still there. But having spread-out fields and not giving the first over to your best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, was questionable. All three wickets that fell were to the fast bowlers.”

“Overall, India were certainly outdone by South Africa,” he added.

Dale Steyn

Former South Africa cricketer came up with contrasting reactions to Gautam Gambhir, saying there were demons on the pitch because none of the batters looked settled at any juncture of the match. The legendary pacer told JioHotstar post-match (via The Indian Express):

“He [Gambhir] said there weren’t demons in the pitch? I certainly saw quite a lot. Some balls are spinning two feet past the bat, hitting the keeper on the shoulder. The next one is skidding through, hitting the pad, and you’re out. That’s pretty tough to bat on. When batters don’t have the option to score runs, the application of defense becomes the biggest key. That itself means batting is really difficult.”

“The two who applied themselves best were Washington Sundar in the fourth innings and Temba Bavuma. Even they looked like they could have gotten out at any time, a ball had their number on it. But their defense was the most solid. This wicket certainly has demons in it, that’s for sure. Any Test match that finishes within three days has got some demons in it, for sure,” he added.

Cheteshwar Pujara

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara reacted sharply to head coach Gautam Gambhir’s post-match press conference, saying that the hosts cannot afford to lose despite the transition, since the youngsters have a good First-Class record. The cricketer-turned-commentator added that even India A can beat South Africa if they play on a good pitch. He told Star Sports in the post-match show:

"I don't agree with this. Transition ki wajah se Bharatiya team Bharat mein haare, woh digest nahi ho sakta (The Indian team losing in India because of the transition cannot be digested). India lost in England and Australia due to the transitional phase, which is still acceptable. But the talent and potential that India has, look at the first-class records of Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, and Shubman Gill. Despite those first-class records, if we lose in India, it means that something is wrong.”

"India had a better chance to win this Test if the match had been played on a good wicket. How do you define Test cricket? On which wickets will your percentage to win be higher? That percentage drops on such wickets, and the opposition becomes equal to you. So, play on good wickets because even India A can win against South Africa; that is the amount of talent India has,” he added.

Ajinkya Rahane

Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane said that the pitch was very challenging for the batters. The 37-year-old reckoned that the team management should have given more freedom to their batters while chasing 124 on a tricky wicket. The cricketer-cum-analyst said on his YouTube channel:

“The kind of pitch we had in Kolkata was very challenging for the batsmen. I felt that in the Indian team, maybe two batters should have been given the freedom to go out and play attacking cricket, play attacking shots. Whenever you are chasing a small target like 125 or 130 on a tricky wicket, you need to let two batters play freely. If you give them that freedom and tell them to play their natural game and their shots, it can help.”

“There was definitely a lot for the Indian team, especially the Indian batsmen, to learn. But I am sure the Indian team will come back really strong, and this loss will definitely hurt them,” he added.

The two teams will next lock horns in the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, beginning on November 22.