Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith believes that both Jasprit Bumrah and Kagiso Rabada will play crucial roles in the upcoming India vs South Africa Test series starting at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday. While much of the pre-series focus has been on the spin, Smith feels that the early exchanges between the two top pacers could affect the course of the contest.
The SA20 League commissioner said this while addressing an event in Mumbai and noted that both teams will be wary of losing early wickets before the spinners take over. “It’s never at the forefront of people’s conversations when you’re playing cricket in the subcontinent,” Smith said. “But to get off to a good start, to have a top three that can lay the platform for you, there’s nothing worse than going two or three down and then the spinners come on and you’re up against the game.”
Smith said South Africa’s biggest challenge will be to counter Bumrah’s accuracy and pace with the new ball. “So facing Bumrah up front will be a big thing and Rabada too for India. They are world bowlers with world records in Tests,” he added.
For Rabada, the former captain said this series will be a big test of leadership and adaptability. The Proteas fast bowler, who has led South Africa’s attacks across formats for several years now, will be tasked with making early breakthroughs on pitches that are expected to aid spin later in the game.
“It’s a big challenge for KG coming to the subcontinent,” explained Smith. “He’s certainly the leader of the attack and how he can set the tone with that new ball will be important for Temba (Bavumu) and the team.”
The former opener also felt that South Africa’s batsmen will have to adapt quickly to the conditions, especially after gaining valuable subcontinental experience through the A-team’s recent matches against Pakistan. “Your game has to adjust, your mindset has to adjust to play here,” he said.
Smith expects the Eden Gardens surface to offer a fair contest between bat and ball, especially at the start of the innings. He noted that while South Africa’s spin pair of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer will be key in the middle overs, how Rabada and the Indian seamers handle the new ball – and later reverse swing – could decide the tone of the series.
With the defending Test world champions coming in with a balanced attack and India boasting home advantage, Smith believes the two-Test series will be a tactical battle where both pace and spin will be the focus.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
November 12, 2025
