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South Africa’s 30-run victory over India in the opening Test at Eden Gardens has ignited a fierce debate over pitch conditions, with Dale Steyn delivering one of the strongest criticisms. While India coach Gautam Gambhir insisted the wicket had ‘no demons,’ Steyn directly contradicted him, describing the surface as unpredictable, uneven, and extremely difficult for batting. His remarks have added fresh intensity to discussions around pitch preparation after the match ended within three days.
Dale Steyn calls out ‘demons’ in Eden Gardens pitch
Reacting to India’s collapse while chasing 124, Steyn strongly disagreed with Gambhir’s defence of the wicket. He pointed to several instances where the ball behaved abnormally — spinning sharply past the bat one moment, shooting low or skidding onto the pads the next. Steyn explained that such inconsistencies leave batters with no realistic scoring options, forcing them into pure defence.
“He said there weren’t demons in the pitch? I certainly saw quite a lot. When batters don’t have the option to score runs, the application of defence becomes the biggest key. That itself means batting is really difficult,” said Steyn on JioHotstar.
He singled out Temba Bavuma and Washington Sundar as the only players who showed solid application but added that even they appeared vulnerable throughout the match.
“Even they looked like they could have gotten out at any time; a ball had their number. This wicket certainly has demons in it. Any Test match that finishes within three days has got some demons for sure,” added Steyn.
How South Africa outplayed India in Kolkata Test
Despite being bowled out for 159 in their first innings, South Africa fought back through disciplined bowling and composed batting under challenging conditions. India managed 189 in response but failed to build a significant lead.
The match’s turning point came in the third innings when South Africa posted 153, riding on captain Bavuma’s resilient unbeaten 55, the only half-century in the Test. His ability to read the conditions and play late proved decisive.
Chasing 124, India were expected to seal the game, but the South African attack delivered a masterclass in discipline and patience. The Indian top order fell to a combination of sharp turn and uneven bounce, losing wickets in clusters. With captain Shubman Gill unavailable to bat due to a neck injury, the middle order lacked stability and folded for 93 in just 35 overs.
Seamers and spinners shared the spoils, but the standout factor was South Africa’s relentless pressure and clarity in reading the conditions better than the hosts. The victory marked South Africa’s first Test win in India in 15 years and gave them a 1–0 lead in the two-match series.
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