South Africa A Stuns India A With Mammoth Run-Chase
In a dramatic turn of events at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, South Africa 'A' delivered a psychological blow to India's Test preparations by successfully chasing down a massive target of 417 runs with five wickets to spare on Sunday, November 9, 2025. What was intended as a preparatory fixture ahead of the two-match Test series against South Africa instead exposed significant concerns in the Indian bowling unit, particularly regarding wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Batting Brilliance Overshadows Bowling Concerns
Despite Dhruv Jurel making an emphatic case for Test selection with centuries in both innings, India's think-tank now faces multiple headaches. While there will be deliberations around batsmen like Sai Sudharsan, the performance of Kuldeep Yadav has emerged as the primary concern. The wrist-spinner, who hadn't played during the England tour but started strongly against West Indies with a five-wicket haul in Delhi, managed just one wicket across two innings in this crucial warm-up match.
The pitch conditions in Bengaluru, which began with good grass cover and evolved into a batting-friendly surface with dead grass, weren't ideal for spinners. However, what stood out was how helpless Kuldeep appeared against South Africa's top-order batsmen. Jordan Hermann (91), Lesego Senokwane (77), Zubayur Hamza (77), and Temba Bavuma (59) all handled the spinner with remarkable ease, never allowing him to settle into any rhythm.
Chase Masterclass From South African Batsmen
The foundation for South Africa A's remarkable victory was laid during the crucial morning session when Hermann and Senokwane ensured India remained wicketless, stitching together a 156-run opening partnership. Though Indian seamers Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna bowled probing spells, the South African batsmen had all the answers.
After conceding over four runs per over in the first session, India briefly pulled things back after lunch, taking two wickets while giving away only 80 runs in 24 overs. However, when Siraj went off the field and Rishabh Pant took rest, with Sai Sudharsan stepping in as captain, South Africa seized the initiative in the final session. The visitors expertly used the sweep shot against the spinners, with Harsh Dubey's restrictive efforts proving insufficient.
The drooping shoulders of Kuldeep Yadav in the final hour told the complete story of India's frustration. With Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar being preferred as all-round spin options overseas, Kuldeep's opportunities have been largely limited to home Tests. The timing of this performance is particularly concerning with the first Test in Kolkata approaching.
Implications For The Kolkata Test
South Africa A's victory lands significant blows to India's Test regulars just before the series begins. The visitors will take particular confidence from how comfortably their batsmen handled Kuldeep Yadav, with captain Temba Bavuma getting a firsthand view of tactics that will likely be shared with the main squad.
While the slow black soil decks at Eden Gardens will present different challenges compared to the Bengaluru surface, the psychological impact of this chase cannot be underestimated. For India, the think-tank must address the bowling concerns while also considering the strong case made by Dhruv Jurel with his twin centuries.
Brief scores: India A 255 & 382/7d lost to South Africa A 221 & 417/5 (Jordan Hermann 91, Lesego Senokwane 77, Zubayr Hamza 77, Temba Bavuma 59) by 5 wickets.
