India were dealt a blow in the early stages of the second day of the Eden Gardens Test when skipper Shubman Gill went off injured after playing just three balls. Gill, who played a sweep shot to get a boundary, felt discomfort as soon as he stood up to his regular stance.
Live visuals showed the India captain looking pretty stiff and holding his neck as he walked off the field. There was no confirmation on the nature of the injury as Gill was retired hurt for the time being. Wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant replaced him in the middle.
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The day started steadily for India as KL Rahul and Washington Sundar started where they left off during stumps on Day 1, keeping the South Africa pacers at bay. The Proteas would ultimately strike with Simon Harmer, who picked Sundar for 29 runs as the India allrounder failed to navigate the sharp turn and found the edge for Aiden Markam to lap it up in the slip.
On Friday, Jasprit Bumrah turned a rare four-spinner gamble into his personal stage, producing a mesmerising exhibition of seam, swing and control as India skittled out South Africa for 159 on the opening day of the first Test.
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On a surface that drew pre-match scrutiny for its dry look, prompting India to field four spinners for the first time since 2012, it was India’s pace star who made the ball talk the loudest, returning a superb 14-2-27-5, his 16 five-wicket hauls in 96 innings.
Bumrah produced a masterclass across little over two sessions, as South Africa crashed from a commanding 57 for no loss in 10 overs to lose all 10 wickets for just 102 runs in next 45 overs, with their innings lasting just four hours and 13 minutes after opting to bat.
It’s South Africa’s second-lowest total after a fifty-plus opening stand in men’s Tests since their readmission. The lowest is 130 in their second innings in the 2018 Cape Town Test, also against India after a 52-run opening stand.
India ended the day at 37 for one in 20 overs, with a resolute Rahul (13 batting from 59 balls) and Sundar (six batting; 38 balls) steady at the crease after Yashasvi Jaiswal (12) dragged Marco Jansen onto his stumps while playing close to his body.
(With agency inputs)
