India go into the first Test against South Africa knowing exactly where the real contest will take place. For all the talk of a young side growing in confidence, the memory of last year’s collapse against the New Zealand spinners still lingers. Three Tests, 36 wickets shared by Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips and a 0-3 defeat at home. That streak of bruising remains in the background as India prepare to face a South African side that has now adopted spin as its primary weapon.
South Africa will then arrive in Kolkata with a well-deserved sense of belief 1-1 draw in Pakistanachieved without captain Temba Bavum. Their spinners, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy, claimed 35 of the 39 wickets in the series, comfortably outplaying Pakistan’s own slow bowlers. It marks a clear shift in identity that the Indian support staff takes seriously.
“They have four spinners available and will most likely play three. It’s a bit like playing against a team from the subcontinent,” assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said. “We dealt with it early. Hopefully we’ve learned from the New Zealand series.”
The biggest reminder of what South Africa can do in these conditions comes in the form of Simon Harmer. He toured India for the first time in 2015 and as a relatively inexperienced off-spinner at the time, he dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha. A decade later, Harmer returns with more than 1,000 first-class wickets and fresh from an eight-wicket haul in Rawalpindi that pulled South Africa level in the Pakistan series.
Maharaj remains the heart of the attack, combining accuracy with the ability to create pressure for long spells. Muthuswamy adds stability at the other end. For a side historically associated with fast bowling, this is a very different South Africa – one that understands how to build a match on slow surfaces.
This is why the Eden Gardens pitch has attracted so much attention. Sourav Ganguly, now CAB president, repeatedly checked him and insisted that he “will not overturn the order”. Captain Shubman Gill and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also took a close look, aware that the conditions here tend to offer something for everyone. Indian captain Shubman Gill with chief selector Gautam Gambhir at Eden Gardens (PTI Photo)
Eden’s numbers support this view. Over the past 15 years, pace bowlers have taken 61 per cent of wickets in Tests at this venue, largely due to early seam movement and late backswing. This statistic will encourage Jasprit Bumrah, who has often shaped Kolkata’s matches with both the new ball and the old ball. India are likely to go with two fast bowlers and Akash Deep, the local seamer, seems to have got ahead due to his understanding of the surface.
Gill’s side have shown resilience abroad, most recently in England, where they drew the Test series 2-2 under his debut captaincy – but the concerns raised by the New Zealand home side were never fully addressed. A 2-0 win over a depleted West Indies side earlier in this WTC cycle did not provide a clear measure of progress.
Against South Africa, India’s challenge is straightforward: stay composed against sustained spin, especially in the pressure phases. With Rishabh Pant sitting again and Dhruv Jurel likely to play as a batting specialist, the middle order carries more weight. Washington Sundar, who took 16 wickets in the New Zealand series, offers an all-round balance alongside Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav.
IND VS SA: MAJOR IN TESTS
South Africa hold a slight lead over India in the head-to-head Test record. Of the 44 matches played between the two sides, the Proteas have won 18, while India have won 16, with 10 matches ending in draws. In India, the teams have met in 19 Tests, with the hosts dominating with 11 wins and five losses, while three matches were drawn. Remarkably, South Africa have not won a Test on Indian soil since 2010 – a streak the reigning world champions will be desperate to break this time around.
PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS KOLKATA
Playground at Eden Gardens it is expected to offer a well-balanced competition. The early morning moisture could help the seamers, with bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj likely to extract swing and movement. As the sun hardens the surface, hitting should be more straightforward, giving hitters the freedom to play their shots. By the third and fourth days, the pitch is expected to turn and bring in the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.
Between November 14 and 18, according to the latest forecasts, there is no chance of rain. Temperatures are expected to range from a crisp 18C in the morning to around 30C in the afternoon, with humidity between 60 and 70 percent. There should be a gentle breeze blowing across the ground, which will ensure pleasant conditions for players and spectators. Mornings may start with a touch of haze, especially during the first three days, but skies should clear as the day progresses.
TEAM NEWS: IND VS SA, 1ST TEST
Skipper Shubman Gill has admitted that the choice between spinner and extra seamer is nothing short of a “conflict”, but the ability of the home tweakers to change the game will be a crucial factor when India finalize their playing XI for the opening Test against South Africa starting here on Friday.
Talisman Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are sure to feature in the side at Eden Gardens while Akash Deep is the third pacer in the team. India have four spinners in Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav. Jadeja, Axar and Washington also offer valuable batting depth.
“It’s always this time of year, there’s always going to be a conflict whether you want to go for an extra seamer or a spinner. So we’ll see the condition tomorrow and decide on the XI,” Gill said at Thursday’s pre-match press conference.
PREDICTED INDIA XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.
SOUTH AFRICA PREDICTED XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Tembuma (c), Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Senuuran Muthusam, Kagida.
IND VS SA, 1ST TEST PREDICTION
India’s path is clear: make a substantial first innings, build pressure and avoid the collective batting freeze that derailed them last year. South Africa’s spinners will be challenged with both technique and temperament, but India know they must rise to the challenge if they want to start the series with authority, not apprehension.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 13, 2025
