The ongoing Test match between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata is moving forward at lightning speed. With the second day's play yet to be completed, both teams have already finished their first innings and South Africa have already lost a few wickets in their second essay as well.
It has been a wicket-fest at the Eden Gardens with bowlers having a gala time from both teams. Meanwhile, the sharp turn and variable bounce has made batting a monumental challenge. KL Rahul, who departed for 39 in the morning session of the second day, saw himself becoming part of a unique Test record dating back to 2010.
In the last 15 years, Rahul's 39 is the lowest top-score across the two innings of any men's Test match. Ironically, the occasion in 2010 also involved these two teams with Durban being the venue. It was hard work for batters from both sides on a minefield surface that behaved so unusually to Eden pitches of recent years.
While Jasprit Bumrah's five-wicket haul on Day 1 might have seemed like normal service in Kolkata, it turned out to be an aberration with the spinners taking over. India's spinners didn't do a lot in the first innings, they didn't need to either with Bumrah at full throttle. However, South Africa's spinners led by Simon Harmer showed how wicked the pitch had become in no time.
Harmer (4-30) was the best South African bowler on show as he attacked the stumps and let the uneven surface to do the rest. Given the level of difficulty he created for India's batters, it was inevitable for the home spinners to double the damage in the third innings with the pitch starting to crack up big time.
Jadeja fully capitalised on the helpful conditions and spun a web around South Africa's batters who have found batting next to impossible on this surface.
