“Thankfully, he’s got a heart like a giant. I will leave it at that,” Shukri Conrad, the South African head coach, said with a smile on Sunday afternoon, after a stunning 30-run defeat of India in the first of two Tests at Eden Gardens.

Conrad was referring to the size of the heart of his extraordinary captain, Temba Bavuma, who had overseen one of the great upsets in Test history. Having been behind the eight-ball for two days, South Africa came storming back to defend a target of 124 with tigerish resolve.