Day 3 of the 1st Test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, has plunged the hosts into a deep crisis, both on and off the field. A challenging target of 124 runs, compounded by the dramatic loss of captain Shubman Gill to injury, has seen India capitulate under pressure. As the second session on Day 3 unfolded, India found themselves precariously placed at 68/5, their hopes of a record chase at this iconic venue hanging by a thread.

Shubman Gill’s Absence: A Crippling Blow

The morning of Day 3 brought devastating news for Team India: captain Shubman Gill was ruled out of the remainder of the match due to a neck injury sustained on Day 2. Reports indicated he was admitted to Woodlands Hospital, initially in the ICU, for observation, with MRI and X-ray scans conducted. While sources suggested his condition had ‘significantly improved’ and ‘no serious issues’ were found, his absence meant India would be effectively ‘a batter short’ in their critical fourth-innings chase. This development immediately shifted the momentum, placing immense psychological pressure on the remaining batsmen.

In Gill’s absence, vice-captain Rishabh Pant stepped up to lead the side. The implications of losing a key top-order batsman and the designated captain were profound. India’s strategy, already challenged by a turning pitch, now had to account for a shortened batting line-up, potentially exposing the tailenders earlier than anticipated. Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, faced a ‘humongous call’ in promoting Dhruv Jurel to number 4, a decision that initially showed promise but ultimately couldn’t stem the tide.

South Africa’s Gritty Fightback and Spin Web

South Africa, starting Day 3 at 94/7, displayed remarkable resilience. Captain Temba Bavuma, who had been a rock through their second innings, notched up a ‘magnificent knock’ of 55 runs from 122 balls, his seventh 50+ score in his last 11 Tests. He was ably supported by Corbin Bosch, whose ‘fiery cameo’ included a crucial six that pushed South Africa’s lead past 100. Bosch, looking ‘really confident,’ even attempted a reverse sweep against Kuldeep Yadav, signaling the Proteas’ intent to not just survive but score vital runs.

Despite early DRS scares for Bavuma and Bosch, and some questioning of Rishabh Pant’s decision to start with Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja over Jasprit Bumrah, South Africa managed to push their total to 153 all out, setting India a target of 124. Mohammed Siraj eventually broke the partnership, bowling Bosch with a ‘ripper’ and then trapping Keshav Maharaj plumb LBW to wrap up the innings. The 124-run target, while seemingly modest, was daunting given the ‘Eden pitch turning square’ and ‘behaving even more erratically’ on Day 3, as foreshadowed by Axar Patel’s pre-day comments about a ‘magic balls’ kind of wicket.

India’s Batting Collapse: A Nightmare Unfolds

India’s chase got off to the worst possible start. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul combined for a paltry ‘aggregate score of 1,’ mirroring a rare low from 2010. Marco Jansen, with his ‘devastating impact,’ dismissed Jaiswal for a duck and Rahul for 1, leaving India reeling at 1/2. The ‘awkward bounce’ of the Eden pitch was evident, leaving Indian batters ‘surprised.’

The decision to send Washington Sundar at No. 3 and Dhruv Jurel at No. 4, in Gill’s absence, was a testament to the difficult circumstances. Jurel, fresh off two centuries for India A, showed early ‘composure,’ hitting boundaries and surviving a crucial DRS review. However, his promising innings of 13 off 33 balls was cut short by Simon Harmer, who claimed him with a ‘poor shot’ straight to deep mid-wicket. Harmer continued his demolition job, securing the ‘huge, huge wicket’ of Rishabh Pant, caught and bowled after an attempt to ‘hammer it straight.’ Pant’s dismissal, just after a dramatic first-ball scare where a reverse-sweep ricocheted off his arm, left India at a precarious 38/4.

Ravindra Jadeja, partnering with Washington Sundar, tried to stabilize the innings, finding boundaries and showing ‘great running between the wickets.’ They brought up India’s 50, briefly offering a glimmer of hope. However, the ‘massive wicket’ of Jadeja, plumb LBW to Harmer, pushed India further into the abyss at 67/5. Simon Harmer’s figures of 19/3 from 12 overs highlighted the South African spinners’ dominance, picking up from where Indian spinners, particularly Jadeja (4 wickets in the second innings), had left off on Day 2, where ‘spinners took 12 of 15 wickets.’

Historical Context and The Road Ahead

The Eden Gardens has historically been a challenging venue for fourth-innings chases. The ‘highest-successful run chase’ at this ground is 117, achieved by India against South Africa in 2004 – a fact that now looms large over the current scenario. India, at 68/5, needed 56 more runs with only five wickets in hand and no Shubman Gill to come. The ‘deep trouble’ India found themselves in was evident, and South Africa were ‘favourites now, surely!’

The pitch, which ‘will only aid spinners from the second day onwards’ as per pre-match reports, lived up to its billing, albeit with a vengeance. The ‘intense debate on social media’ regarding the pitch conditions is likely to continue, especially if India fails to chase down this relatively small target. For Rishabh Pant, his captaincy debut in Test cricket under such dire circumstances will be a baptism by fire. His ‘bowling and fielding changes’ on Day 2 were praised, but the batting collapse on Day 3 leaves him with an insurmountable task.

The ‘critical care panel’ formed for Gill and the doubt over his ‘participation for the Guwahati Test’ further underscore the severity of this opening Test. What began as an exciting contest has quickly devolved into a desperate struggle for survival for Team India, marked by injury, batting woes, and the relentless pressure of a turning Eden Gardens track.

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