Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah took five wickets to lead India’s inspired attack and leave South Africa tottering at 159 all out on day one of the first Test on Friday.
Reigning world Test champions South Africa elected to bat at the start of the two-match series in Kolkata after key pace bowler Kagiso Rabada was ruled out due to a rib injury.
Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton started briskly in a 57-run opening stand before falling to Bumrah (5-27) and India soon seized control with regular strikes.
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Spinner Kuldeep Yadav and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj took two wickets each to expose South African lower-order.
Axar Patel sent back Corbin Bosch for three at the stroke of tea while Tristan Stubbs finished unbeaten on 15.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah celebrates after taking five-wicket haul during the first day of the first Test cricket match between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 14, 2025. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE –Source: AFP
Earlier, Markram took 23 deliveries to get off the mark but did it with a glorious straight drive for four off Siraj.
Spin was introduced in the eighth over with Axar Patel bowling his left-arm spin but Markram kept up the attack with another set of boundaries.
Bumrah broke the opening stand when he bowled left-hander Rickelton for 23 to raise the noise of a large crowd.
He then produced a gem to send back Markram, caught behind for 31 on a rising ball that got the glove as returning wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant completed a diving catch.
Kuldeep kept up the bowling charge and took down Temba Bavuma with the skipper caught at leg slip for three.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah celebrates after a five-wicket haul on the first day of the first cricket test match between India and South Africa in Kolkata, India, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)Source: AP
Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi took the team past 100 and into lunch before Kuldeep trapped Mulder lbw for 24 with the batsman attempting a reverse sweep off the left-arm wrist spinner.
Bumrah ended de Zorzi’s defiance and the batter, like Mulder, wasted a review with tracker on both occasions showing the ball would have hit the stumps.
Wickets kept tumbling as Siraj picked two in the space of four balls, with Kyle Verreynne lbw for 16 and Marco Jansen bowled for a duck.