India walk into the first Test against South Africa knowing precisely where the real contest will unfold. For all the talk of a young side growing in confidence, the memory of last year’s collapse against New Zealand’s spinners still lingers. Three Tests, 36 wickets shared by Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips, and a 0-3 defeat at home. That bruising series remains in the background as India prepare to face a South African side that has now embraced spin as its primary weapon.
South Africa arrive in Kolkata with a well-earned sense of belief after a 1-1 draw in Pakistan, achieved without captain Temba Bavuma. Their spinners, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy, claimed 35 of the 39 wickets in that series, comfortably outperforming Pakistan’s own slow bowlers. It marks a clear shift in identity, one that India’s support staff have taken seriously.
“They have got four spinners at their disposal, and most likely they will play three. It is a little bit like playing against a subcontinent team,” assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said. “We have addressed that early on. Hopefully, we have learnt 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 first toured India in 2015 and, even as a relatively inexperienced off-spinner then, dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha. Ten years later, Harmer returns with more than 1,000 first-class wickets and fresh from an eight-wicket haul in Rawalpindi that dragged South Africa level in the Pakistan series.
Maharaj remains the heartbeat of the attack, combining accuracy with the ability to build pressure for long spells. Muthuswamy adds steadiness at the other end. For a side historically associated with fast bowling, this is a very different South Africa—one that understands how to construct a match on slow surfaces.
That is why the Eden Gardens pitch has drawn such attention. Sourav Ganguly, now the CAB president, has inspected it repeatedly and insisted it “will not be a rank-turner”. Captain Shubman Gill and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak have taken their own close looks as well, aware that conditions here tend to offer something for everyone.
Eden’s numbers support that view. Over the last 15 years, pace bowlers have taken 61 per cent of the wickets in Tests at this venue, largely through early seam movement and late reverse swing. That statistic will encourage Jasprit Bumrah, who has often shaped matches in Kolkata with both the new and old ball. India are likely to go with two fast bowlers, and Akash Deep, the local seamer, appears to have edged ahead thanks to his understanding of the surface.
Gill’s team have shown resilience abroad, most recently in England, where they drew a testing series 2-2 under his debut captaincy—but the concerns raised by the New Zealand whitewash at home were never fully addressed. The 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, particularly in pressure phases. With Rishabh Pant fit again and Dhruv Jurel likely to play as a specialist batter, the middle order carries more weight. Washington Sundar, who took 16 wickets in the New Zealand series, offers all-round balance alongside Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav.
IND VS SA: HEAD-TO-HEAD IN TESTS
South Africa hold a slight edge over India in their head-to-head Test record. Of the 44 matches played between the two sides, the Proteas have won 18, while India have emerged victorious in 16, with 10 games ending in draws. In India, the teams have met in 19 Tests, where the hosts have dominated with 11 wins and five losses, while three matches have been drawn. Notably, South Africa have not won a Test on Indian soil since 2010 – a streak the reigning World Test Champions will be desperate to break this time.
KOLKATA PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS
The pitch at Eden Gardens is expected to offer a well-balanced contest. Early morning moisture could assist the seamers, with bowlers such as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj likely to extract swing and movement. As the sun hardens the surface, batting should become more straightforward, giving stroke-makers the freedom to play their shots. By the third and fourth days, the pitch is anticipated to take turn, bringing spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar firmly into play.
According to the latest forecasts, there is no threat of rain between 14 and 18 November. Temperatures are expected to range from a crisp 18°C in the mornings to around 30°C in the afternoons, with humidity between 60 and 70 per cent. A gentle breeze should drift across the ground, ensuring pleasant conditions for both players and spectators. The mornings may begin with a touch of haze, particularly during the first three days, but the skies should clear as the day progresses.
TEAM NEWS: IND VS SA, 1ST TEST
Skipper Shubman Gill acknowledged that the choice between a spinner and an extra seamer is nothing short of a “conflict” but the game-changing ability of tweakers at home will be a crucial factor when India finalise their eleven for the opening Test against South Africa, beginning here on Friday.
The talismanic Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are certain to feature in the side at Eden Gardens, while Akash Deep is the third pacer in the squad. India have four spinners in Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav. Jadeja, Axar and Washington also offer valuable batting depth.
“It is always this time of the year, there is always a conflict if you want to go for an extra seamer or spinner. That is why we will see the condition tomorrow and decide on the XI,” Gill said in the pre-match press conference on Thursday.
INDIA PREDICTED 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, Temba Bavuma (c), Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada
IND VS SA, 1ST TEST PREDICTION
India’s path is clear: make substantial first-innings runs, apply pressure, and avoid the kind of collective batting freeze that derailed them last year. South Africa’s spinners will challenge both technique and temperament, but India know they must confront that challenge head-on if they are to begin the series with authority rather than apprehension.
– Ends
