IND vs SA: For the first time in 28 years... Team India was embarrassed, repeating the old mistake.

The Indian team was embarrassed on a spin-friendly pitch at home. India suffered a 30-run defeat at the hands of South Africa in the first Test in Kolkata.

Chasing a target of 124 runs at Eden Gardens on Sunday, the Indian team collapsed for just 93 runs. The Indian batsmen succumbed to the South African spinners Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, and Aiden Markram.

This was the first time since 1997 that the Indian team failed to chase a score of 125 runs or less in a Test match. Previously, in 1997, Team India failed to chase a target of 120 runs in Bridgetown. They were all out for 81 runs and lost the match by 38 runs.

India failed to chase the lowest target:

120 vs West Indies - Bridgetown, 1997

124 vs South Africa - Kolkata, 2025*

147 vs New Zealand - Wankhede, 2024

176 vs Sri Lanka - Galle, 2015

193 vs England - Lord's, 2025

What Gautam Gambhir said

Meanwhile, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the Eden Gardens pitch, saying it was prepared exactly as he had requested.

Gambhir said, "It wasn't an unplayable pitch. We had requested a pitch like that, and curator Sujan Mukherjee was very supportive. I think it was a pitch that tests your mental toughness. Whoever defends well here will score runs."