Kolkata, Nov. 14 – India selected Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel for the opening Test against South Africa, who won the toss and decided to bat first at Eden Gardens.
The Test series starts after India beat the West Indies 2‑0 at home and after South Africa drew 1‑1 with Pakistan. It’s the first time India will play a Test in six years.
India’s XI
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Washington Sundar
- Shubman Gill (captain)
- Rishabh Pant – wicket‑keeper
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Dhruv Jurel
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
Pant returned to the crease after healing a right‑foot fracture and is back behind the stumps, replacing Nitish Kumar Reddy. Axar stepped in for B Sai Sudharsan, giving India all four spinners and a second‑string keeper‑batter.
“India’s Test side is hungry and always wants to win,” said captain Shubman Gill. “It looks like a good surface for the first couple of days, and we hope the pitch provides some turn as the match progresses.”
South Africa’s XI
- Aiden Markram
- Ryan Rickelton
- Wiaan Mulder
- Temba Bavuma (captain)
- Tony de Zorzi
- Tristan Stubbs
- Kyle Verreynne – wicket‑keeper
- Simon Harmer
- Marco Jansen
- Corbin Bosch
- Keshav Maharaj
Bavuma noted that fast‑bowling spearhead Kagiso Rabada missed out because of a rib injury. Corbin Bosch took his place. “The boys just came back from Pakistan,” Bavuma said. “Playing in a crowd of 50,000‑60,000 people is a different experience, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
The match will test both sides’ patience and skill on a typical Indian wicket, with a dry top and little grass. Expect an engaging clash between two quality teams on one of India’s most famous cricket grounds.
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