‘RIP Test cricket’: Harbhajan Singh, Michael Vaughan left fuming over ‘awful’ Indian pitch

Indian great Harbhajan Singh has declared Test cricket is dead after the poor Eden Gardens pitch caused havoc for all representing South Africa and India on Sunday.

At stumps on day two of the first Test, India took control of proceedings after it was bowled out for 189 runs in its first innings.

Fifteen wickets feel during the second day of the Test, with Ravindra Jadeja took 4-29 as South Africa was down to 93-7 in 35 overs.

READ MORE: ‘It’s a rout’: Woeful Wallabies destroyed by rampant Ireland

READ MORE: Eubank stunned as family feud ends in one-sided rematch

READ MORE: Demon confronts ‘dark places’ as Sinner streak extends

But the tricky state of the pitch in the second innings stole the show on Sunday, with legends of the games taking to social media to express their disappointment.

Singh, who retired from international cricket in 2016, was far from impressed by the display he was seeing, with neither team’s batters able to handle the surface.

The pitch at Eden Gardens prior to the first ball being bowled. Getty

As a result, Singh felt the match was making “a mockery of test cricket.”

“Test cricket, India v South Africa. The game is almost over and the second day isn’t finished yet,” he wrote.

“#RIPTESTCRICKET,” Singh added.

The Indian star was not alone in feeling that way, with England’s Michael Vaughan also commenting about the “awful pitch in Kolkata”.

Former Australian captain Aaron Finch had a different view.

“I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, every ball is an event though and watching players try and work out a way to survive is fun to watch,” he wrote on X.

The hosts took a slender lead of 30 runs, before knocking over the majority of the Proteas’ batting lineup in the second innings.

South Africa had scored 159 runs in its first innings, with Jasprit Bumrah picking 5-27. Overall, it leads by 63 runs after two days of high attrition on an unpredictable surface.

South Africa in action in the field. NurPhoto via Getty Images

At stumps, skipper Temba Bavuma was batting on 29 runs off 78 balls with Corbin Bosch (1 not out) for company. Play was called off early once again because of bad light.

Spin was the flavour of the day, and India started off its attack with Axar Patel from one end in the second innings.

Kuldeep Yadav struck right at the stroke of tea — Ryan Rickelton was out lbw for 11 runs, with the score at 18-1.

Another six Proteas wickets fell in the final session. Jadeja struck hard at the South African line-up with his discipline.

Aiden Markram was caught at short leg for four, while Wiaan Mulder was caught behind for 11 runs.

South Africa slumped to 60-5 as Jadeja struck twice in the 17th over — after Mulder, he had Toni de Zorzi caught for 2 runs. Later, Tristan Stubbs failed to read another straight delivery, and was bowled for 5 runs.

Kyle Verreynne (9) played a poor stroke off Axar Patel and was castled, with the score down to 75-6.

Marco Jansen threw his bat around to score 13 runs, before he was caught off Yadav. But it was Bavuma who held one end up for South Africa and pushed the game into day 3.

“Playing in India, you know you will be under pressure,” off-spinner Simon Harmer told media after play was called.

Team India celebrates the wicket of Marco Jansen. NurPhoto via Getty Images

“Cricket’s a funny game, we could be sitting here tomorrow with a completely different story.

“If there is one thing that this team has showed it’s that they can fight when the backs are against the wall.”

Earlier, India was bowled out for a lowly first innings’ score as well with Harmer picking 4-30. Jansen also took 3-35, with Keshav Maharaj (1-66) and Bosch (1-32) taking a wicket apiece.

Starting at overnight 37-1, Lokesh Rahul and Washington Sundar had negotiated the first hour of play without loss, adding 38 runs in 14 overs.

In the second hour, South Africa struck back with three wickets even as India scored 63 runs. Sundar was the first to go — out caught at slip off Harmer who found ample help from the pitch. He scored 29 runs off 82 balls, with two fours and a six.

Skipper Gill retired hurt after facing only three deliveries — he felt a jerk in his neck when hitting his first boundary and walked off retired hurt.

Gill did not come out to bat again, and reportedly is suffering from a neck spasm. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant marshalled India in the second innings in Gill’s absence.

Rahul scored 39 and was caught off Maharaj, with Markram taking a low catch at slip.

Pant then scored 27 off 24 balls, including two sixes, to speed the scoring prior to lunch, before he fell to a bouncer from Bosch. The first session resulted in 101 runs overall with India 138-4 at lunch.

Dhruv Jurel was the first to go in the second session — a simple, low return catch to Harmer after India crossed 150.

Jadeja crossed 4,000 runs in his test career, as he scored 27 off 45 balls. He joined a select group of all-rounders to pick 300 wickets and score 4000 runs in tests — India’s Kapil Dev, England’s Ian Botham and New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori.

Jansen then got into the attack and dismissed the lower-order for cheap. Only Axar Patel resisted with 16 runs, and he was the last man out — caught off Harmer again.

It gave India a slender lead, but the hosts regained control of the match by stumps.

“Playing attacking cricket is the only option as a batter,” Axar Patel said

“We can’t have a defensive mindset because you are never in. So we have to convert the loose balls. Patience is key on this surface.

“If we can keep them below 125, it should be chaseable tomorrow.”

South Africa hasn’t won a test in India in 15 years.

The second test will be played from November 22 at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium, which hosted multiple games in the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup but will become a men’s test venue for the first time.

Recently, India beat West Indies 2-0, with left-arm wrist spinner Yadav the leading bowler with 12 wickets. South Africa drew a two-test series in Pakistan 1-1.