Calcutta: Team India suffered a major blow in the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) season after suffering a shock defeat to South Africa in the opening Test at Eden Gardens. The defeat – South Africa’s first Test win on Indian soil since 2010 – not only gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the series but also pushed India back to fourth place in the WTC standings.
Although India dominated parts of the game, India’s failure to capitalize on their advantage in the first innings and the batting collapse on the third day proved costly. South Africa’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Simon Harmer and supported by a brave half-century from captain Temba Bavuma, turned the game decisively in their favour.
India is losing ground in the WTC race
Before the Calcutta Test, India was comfortably in second place in the WTC standings. However, the loss saw them drop to fourth place and their Points Percentage (PCT) took a significant hit. Meanwhile, South Africa jumped from fourth to second place, collecting 24 points and boasting a solid PCT score of 66.67.
Sri Lanka, previously behind both India and South Africa, moved up to third place, suddenly leaving India outside the top three. With difficult away rounds and few fixtures left in this WTC cycle, every point is now crucial for Rohit Sharma’s men as they aim for another place in the finals.
The result in Kolkata shows how costly even a single home defeat can be in the highly competitive WTC format, where consistency and performance across all venues determine the eventual finalists.
India starts strong, falters under pressure
India started the game on a pioneering note. Jasprit Bumrah delivered some top-notch fast bowling and took five wickets as South Africa posted just 159 in their first innings. Supported by Mohammed Siraj (2/25) and spin duo Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, India looked well on their way to a dominant win.
At the end of the first day, India were 37/1 with Yashasvi Jaiswal losing early to Marco Jansen. KL Rahul and Washington Sundar steadied the innings on day two with a solid partnership of 57 runs, the highest of any India innings, giving the hosts a narrow but seemingly useful lead of 30 runs.
However, the dynamic changed abruptly when South African Simon Harmer unleashed a devastating spin spell that removed key Indian batsmen and triggered a middle-order collapse. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja attempted a rescue act but India were bowled out for 189 and failed to establish a lead.
The blow was made even worse when captain Shubman Gill suffered a neck injury early in his innings and played no further role in the Test – a setback that visibly affected India’s tactical flexibility and decision-making on the field.
Bavuma’s courage and Harmer’s brilliance sealed India’s fate
South Africa’s response in the second innings was a story of courage and patience. India’s bowlers, particularly Ravindra Jadeja (4/50), kept them in the contest by reducing the visitors to 93/7. But Bavuma persevered amid the rubble and scored an unbeaten 55 points which proved crucial to the game. His innings full of determination and astute shot selection helped the Proteas extend their lead to a total of 124 runs to defend.
Harmer once again returned to torment India’s batting order. His second innings haul of 4/21 broke the backbone of the Indian chase while Marco Jansen (2/15) and Keshav Maharaj (2/37) cleaned up the rest. India’s batting failed miserably on a deteriorating pitch, handing South Africa a famous victory and leaving Indian fans stunned.
India’s WTC road is getting tougher
The defeat in Calcutta is a wake-up call for India. Once considered unbeatable at home, the defeat exposes gaps in India’s batting order and raises questions about their ability to adapt on spin-friendly but unpredictable surfaces.
In the overall picture of the WTC, this result could have far-reaching consequences. With each Test series contributing to the points table, a home defeat will have a drastic impact on India’s chances of qualifying. The last time India failed to reach a WTC final was in the inaugural cycle (2019-21) and with tougher tasks ahead – including away tours to Australia and South Africa – regaining lost ground will be a challenge.
The WTC points table after the Kolkata Test is as follows:
Australia – 1st (unchanged)
South Africa – 24 points | 66.67 PCT
Sri Lanka – 3
India – 4th (down two places)
India’s fall in the rankings highlights the tight margins in this championship format. Just one loss can lead to a major reshuffle, especially when each team only plays six series (three home and three away) in a cycle.
All eyes on Guwahati Decider
The series now moves to Guwahati where the second and final Test begins on November 22. It is a must for India to win the game – not only to level the series but also to regain lost WTC points. There is just as much at stake for South Africa. A win or even a draw would give them their first Test series win in India since 2000 and consolidate their position in the top two spots of the WTC table.
The hosts are likely to reassess their batting combinations, with questions about the middle order and fitness concerns surrounding Shubman Gill. The pitch in Guwahati is expected to offer more bounce and pace, which may benefit the Indian seamers.
