Belief, Bavuma and the end of a 15-year wait

Running back, the ball over his shoulder, the sun in his eyes, Temba Bavuma completed the catch that put South Africa one wicket away from victory.

- Dhiman Sarkar

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir (right) greets South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma in Kolkata on Sunday,

(AP)

One they achieved the next ball. An over that had Keshav Maharaj being hit for 16 ended with South Africa winning their first Test in India since 2010, the left-arm spinner having dismissed Axar Patel and Mohammed Siraj in successive deliveries to seal the victory.

Being unbeaten in Pakistan and having won in Bangladesh, South ‘Africa have ensured they will now not lose a series in India. That's not their aim, far from it. “You don’t go to a country to win a Test, obviously we will try to win the series,” said South Africa coach Shukri Conrad.

The first match of the Freedom Series was like Test cricket in a capsule, the contest not even lasting eight full sessions. Nothing new there, said Bavuma. “Don't think I have ever played on Day 5 in India nor have I played on Day 4 unless they scored 600.”