India vs South Africa, 1st Test preview, H2H stats, pitch report, streaming details, possible XIs

The Indian Men's Cricket team, led by Shubman Gill, faces a significant challenge against the World Test Champions, South Africa, starting November 14 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Rishabh Pant will return to the Indian Test cricket team after getting injured during the England tour. Image | BCCI on X

Shubman Gill and the Indian Men's Cricket team's biggest test against the World Test Champions will start from 14th November at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The two-match Test series will surely be a mouth-watering and challenging one, with the South African side coming with their biggest pool of spin bowlers for the first time. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Match details

Match: India vs South Africa, 1st Test

Date: November 14-18 2025

Time: 9.30 am IST

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Where to watch the India vs South Africa, 1st Test match?

Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs South Africa, 1st Test match online on JioHotstar, via OTTplay Premium.

India vs South Africa: H2H stats

Both India and South Africa have faced each other 44 times in Test matches. India have won 16 Test matches while South Africa won 18 Tests. 10 Test matches between them have ended in a draw.

South Africa last won a Test against India in India in 2010 when Hasim Amla’s unbeaten 253 helped them win by an innings and 6 runs.

Read Also: Qualified teams for the FIFA World Cup 2026: Full list.

Pitch report

The pitch at Eden Gardens, composed of black soil with light grass patches, offers a balanced contest between bat and ball. Early sessions are expected to favour fast bowlers, with extra bounce, movement, and the prospect of swing thanks to the wind blowing off the nearby Hooghly River.

While spin is a part of the Eden Gardens tradition, meaningful turn and assistance for slow bowlers are likely to emerge only from the third day onwards.

South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, faces a strategic dilemma between deploying three spinners in Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, and Simon Harmer or prioritizing pace, as pitch and weather conditions dictate after training sessions.

Indian spinners Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav will similarly look to capitalize once the surface begins to deteriorate.

Match preview

India has confirmed the return of Rishabh Pant to the playing XI, with Dhruv Jurel exhibiting unstoppable form, leading to the temporary release of Nitish Reddy.

The Indian batting lineup features a mix of experienced campaigners like KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, who hold the chance to break the record for most centuries by an Indian Test captain in a calendar year, a milestone currently tied with Virat Kohli.

South Africa counters with a balanced squad including captain Temba Bavuma, batting stalwarts Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton, and a spin trio anchoring their bowling attack. The inclusion of Marco Jansen alongside the usual pace battery promises an intriguing contest.

Possible XI:

India: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada

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