Bumrah's magic seals opening-day honours for India
South Africa won their first toss in India in eight attempts but Bumrah put it out of the equation with a five-for
It was the pitches in 2015-16, it was the tosses in 2019-20, but India removed both variables from the equation in dismissing South Africa for 159 on the opening day of the 2025-26 series. The visitors had won the toss on a decent batting surface at Eden Gardens and raced to 57 without loss in just 10 overs, only to be undone by Jasprit Bumrah’s 16th five-wicket haul, backed brilliantly by Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj. India, with Washington Sundar promoted to No. 3, were 37 for 1 in 20 overs by stumps.
Conscious of past mistakes with underused bowling, India opted for six bowlers, with Axar Patel taking Washington’s usual spot. For a period, as Siraj struggled for rhythm and Axar was taken to task, it seemed India might need every bowling option in their arsenal.
But Bumrah, operating at the other end, was exceptional. From those initial 57 runs, he had conceded only nine in five overs. Extending his first spell by two overs, he produced two unplayable deliveries — swinging one in to trap Ryan Rickelton’s off stump, and then a seaming delivery that removed Aiden Markram after it kicked off a good length. He finished with figures of 7-4-9-2 as South Africa were 62 for 2.
While the pitch wasn’t unplayable, it offered enough assistance for the bowlers. Kuldeep exploited quick turn early in his spell, prompting India to employ a backward short leg for the first time. The strategy paid off when Temba Bavuma edged one to Dhruv Jurel, who handed over the gloves to Rishabh Pant but retained his spot on the back of recent big scores against West Indies and South Africa A.
Tony de Zorzi and Wiaan Mulder steadied the innings until lunch, only to face the double threat of Bumrah and Kuldeep thereafter. In just six overs, they added only 15 more runs. Mulder, dismissed lbw for 24 attempting a reverse sweep off Kuldeep, and De Zorzi, beaten by a nipping delivery similar to Rickelton’s, were back in the pavilion.
Bumrah’s reverse swing had begun, and Siraj then continued South Africa’s torment. Kyle Verreynne fell to a pad-first lbw, while Marco Jansen was struck on the top of off in the same over. Axar Patel, after an uneventful first spell, returned to find some turn and trapped Corbin Bosch lbw with what became the last delivery before tea.
The specialist batter Tristan Stubbs failed to farm the strike effectively, leaving the spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj exposed to Bumrah, who accounted for both in one over, equalling BS Chandrasekhar’s tally of five-fors and cementing his place in India’s top five. South Africa were consigned to their second-lowest first-innings score against India.
Batting for India was not entirely straightforward either, especially with Kagiso Rabada sidelined due to a rib injury. As light faded in Kolkata, Jansen bowled accurately but struggled to find a consistent threatening length, though he did remove Yashasvi Jaiswal with a well-pitched cut delivery. KL Rahul and Washington had to navigate cautiously, with Maharaj and Harmer showing glimpses of their improved skills. Bumrah’s five-for, however, became increasingly crucial as the day ended with dust rising from the pitch and India poised to build on a strong bowling performance.
) an bowled them out cheapely....hope our guys do not squander it... 
