They came storming back in the fourth innings as the attack, without Kagiso Rabada, bowled India out for just 93 to seal a famous 30 run win. The match was over inside three days.
It was a thrilling Test, but it was far from a classic. The highest score in the match and the only knock that reached 50 was Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten 55 in the second innings which proved to be match winning.
The result produced more questions than answers. With the second Test set to start in Guwahati on Saturday, here is a look at some of the key questions that emerged after the Eden Gardens miracle.
Why would India prepare a pitch like that?
India made it clear that they requested the surface at Eden Gardens. Coach Gautam Gambhir even said it was exactly the pitch they wanted. But why did they want it?
And why did Pakistan prepare similar turners in the previous tournament? Home nations have long had the freedom to prepare pitches that suit their strengths or negate their opponents’ strengths.
So, in a time of detailed analysis why are Asian sides producing pitches that suit South Africa. The Proteas are no longer short on spin options.
The ICC Test bowling rankings are currently dominated by Australians but in Keshav Maharaj the Proteas have a spinner ranked higher than India’s top option Kuldeep Yadav. Simon Harmer is a bit further back but he is climbing fast after years away from Test cricket.
When you are facing the World Test Champions at home and their attack is comparable to yours it may be wiser to produce a batting friendly pitch or at least a surface that gives the game a chance to run its full five days.
Is Jasprit Bumrah a bad luck charm?
Indian quick Jasprit Bumrah is an outstanding bowler. He is the world’s top ranked Test bowler with 232 wickets at an average of 19.54.
Despite that India win far more often when he is not in the team. Since his debut at Newlands in 2018 Bumrah has played 51 Tests of which India have won 22 and lost 24.
Of the 28 Tests India have played without him they have won 20 and lost five. That means India win more than 71 percent of their Tests without him and only 43 percent when he plays.
The reason is unclear, but the trend continued in the first Test in Kolkata where Bumrah impressed once again with match figures of six for 51 but still found himself on the losing side.
Is Temba Bavuma the best ever Proteas skipper?
South Africa have had many great leaders. Hansie Cronje was widely respected before his fall from grace. Graeme Smith is the most capped skipper in international cricket.
Smith was charismatic and influential a figure of real presence. While he led a side of legends Bavuma leads a team without many global stars and with the possible exception of Kagiso Rabada none would walk into a world best eleven.
Bavuma will never captain South Africa in as many Tests as Smith who led the side 109 times. Bavuma has led only nine Tests, but he has made an incredible start.
After guiding the Proteas to the World Test Championship title and overseeing their first Test win in India in 15 years South Africa remain unbeaten under his leadership.
He has captained 11 Tests of which South Africa have won ten and drawn one. Smith managed 53 wins in his 109 matches.
It is still early days for Bavuma but with a 90 percent win rate he is miles ahead of second placed Steve Waugh who finished with just under 72 percent.
Who will miss out if Rabada returns?
Kagiso Rabada is expected to be fit for the Test in Guwahati which is huge news for the Proteas. He was the first to rush onto the field when the first Test ended and the way he sprinted toward his teammates suggested that he has recovered well.
The question is who makes way for the world’s number five bowler. Several options exist. It could be a straight swap with Corbin Bosch but Bosch who took one wicket also made a valuable 25 in the second innings while sharing a vital 44 run stand with Bavuma.
It could be Wiaan Mulder. Batting at three he made 35 runs across the match which was useful in context. He opened the bowling in the first innings and did not bowl in the second.
Another option would be handing the gloves to Ryan Rickelton who keeps in white ball cricket and resting Kyle Verreynne. Verreynne kept well in the first Test and took the chances that came his way but if space needs to be created this remains a possible route.
How will India respond to the Shubman Gill injury?
Another major concern involves India skipper Shubman Gill who missed most of the first Test due to neck spasms. While he has not been officially ruled out of the second Test his chances of playing look slim. India will need a new captain and someone to fill the three or four position.
The captaincy is not a major issue as there are several leaders in the side and they can simply hand the role to vice captain Rishabh Pant.
The bigger problem is that the replacement batting options Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal are both left handers while Gill bats right-handed.
This matters because Simon Harmer specialises in bowling to left handers. In the first Test he took eight wickets and six were left handers.
India had six left handers in their line up in Kolkata and replacing Gill with another left hander gives them seven. It is clear that India is worried about Harmer and their struggles against him were evident in the first Test.
If they select a replacement from outside the current squad, does it show they are rattled or are they simply being smart and trying to strengthen their chances of drawing a series, they can no longer win.