India hit historic low under Gautam Gambhir, set worst-ever batting record after Kolkata Test loss

South Africa stunned India with a dramatic 30-run victory in the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday (November 16). South Africa pulled off the thrilling victory on the third day of the Kolkata Test to end their 15-year wait for a Test triumph on Indian soil.

On the turning pitch at the Eden Gardens, a simple chase of 124 turned into a nightmare as India was bowled out for just 93, and South Africa took a 1-0 lead in the ongoing first Test on Sunday. They were already without their captain, Shubman Gill, who missed the match due to neck surgery.

South Africa ends 15-year drought in India with stunning 30-run win at Eden Gardens

And then the tricky pitch made every ball tough to play for the Indian batters. Earlier, South Africa had built their fightback around captain Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten 55, the only fifty of the match, along with a crucial 44-run stand with Corbin Bosch that kept their hopes alive at the Eden Gardens.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Read Also: "This pitch is what we..." - Gautam Gambhir exposes truth about Eden Gardens pitch after defeat

Defending 124, South African bowlers took complete control. Simon Harmer delivered a brilliant spell with four wickets, while Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, and Keshav Maharaj chipped in with timely strikes that ripped through India’s batting lineup to hand them a memorable victory.

With this embarrassing defeat, the Indian team reached a new historic low with the embarrassing collapse. The 124-run chase became the second-lowest target India has failed to overhaul in Test cricket. 120 against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1997 remains the lowest target the Indian side failed to chase down in the traditional format of the game.

It was followed by 147 against New Zealand at Wankhede in 2024, 176 against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2015, 193 against England at Lord’s in 2025, and 194 against England at Edgbaston in 2018.

Lowest targets India failed to chase down in Tests:

120 against West Indies at Bridgetown, 1997

124 against South Africa at Eden Gardens, 2025

147 against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium, 2024

176 against Sri Lanka at Galle, 2015

193 against England at Lord’s, 2025

194 against England at Edgbaston, 201

Meanwhile, South Africa’s remarkable victory at Eden Gardens has now entered the record books as the second-lowest target ever defended in a Test match on Indian soil. Their successful defense of 124 runs against India stands alongside some rare and remarkable performances.

Read Also: Rishabh Pant reveals the actual reason behind India's defeat in Kolkata Test

The lowest defended target in India remains Australia’s effort in 2004 at the Wankhede Stadium, where they defended just 107. New Zealand also pulled off a memorable win in 2024 by defending 147 at the same venue. Another famous instance came in 1996, when India defended 170 against South Africa in Ahmedabad.

Lowest target successfully defended in India in Tests:

107: IND vs AUS at Wankhede Stadium, 2004

124: SA vs IND at Eden Gardens, 2025

147: NZ vs IND at Wankhede Stadium, 2024

170: IND vs SA at Ahmedabad, 1996

Additionally, the Indian cricket team has lost four out of their six Test matches on home soil recently. This is a massive drop in India’s dominance in the traditional format of the game, especially considering that between 2015 and 2022, India had only lost two home tests.