Kolkata, Nov 16 (NationPress) India's acting captain Rishabh Pant admitted that the 44-run partnership forged by South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma and all-rounder Corbin Bosch severely impacted the home side, culminating in a 30-run defeat at Eden Gardens on Sunday.

Skipper Bavuma's resilient 55 not out on a challenging batting surface, coupled with a significant 44-run partnership with Bosch, after an earlier 16-run stand with Jansen, propelled South Africa's lead to 123, securing a Test victory in India after a span of 15 years. In pursuit of 124, India was bowled out for 93, now trailing 1-0 in the two-match series.

“In a game like this, you can’t linger on the past. We should have been able to chase it down. The pressure mounted continuously, and we failed to capitalize adequately. Temba and Bosch’s partnership in the morning significantly hurt us,” Pant stated during the post-match presentation.

When questioned about the pitch conditions, Pant acknowledged that chasing a target around 120 was challenging, given the assistance spinners received, yet he conceded that the Indian batsmen should have achieved the target.

“The pitch offered assistance. A target of 120 can be daunting on these surfaces. However, we should handle the pressure and seize the opportunities. While we haven’t identified specific areas for improvement, we're confident of bouncing back,” he expressed.

During the post-match press conference, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir noted that the challenging two-paced pitch with variable bounce matched their expectations for the match at Eden Gardens.

“This is exactly what we had requested, and we are pleased with the outcome. This pitch was precisely what we aimed for. The curator was very accommodating. If you don’t perform well, this is the result. It wasn’t an unplayable wicket; it was a test of technique and temperament. With a solid defense, runs can be scored on such pitches,” he explained.

Gambhir also criticized the Indian batsmen for failing to chase down 124 on a pitch he deemed manageable. “I believed 123 was quite achievable. The right mindset is essential to score runs; this is what happens when the performance falters. There are no demons in this wicket; both Axar and Bavuma managed to score,” he remarked.

“The majority of wickets were claimed by seam bowlers. This pitch tests mental resilience, technique, and temperament. Players like KL Rahul, Bavuma, and Washington displayed solid defense. Mental toughness is vital,” he concluded.