India added another inglorious chapter to their string of recent home failures on Sunday, slumping to one of their most embarrassing defeats after failing to chase down 124 on an admittedly imperfect surface at Eden Gardens.

Having begun the third day of the first Test well placed to translate their dominance to a 1-0 lead, India’s challenge unravelled dramatically in front of a shell-shocked audience as they keeled over for 93 to go down by 30 runs. South Africa, led by magnificent captain Temba Bavuma, never gave up, but even they will admit to pleasant surprise at India’s abject capitulation, in only 149 minutes and 35 overs.