The first match of the two-Test series between India and South Africa will be played today, November 14, at Kolkata's historic Eden Gardens. The match is scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM IST (Indian Standard Time).
Sports News: The first match of the two-Test series between India and South Africa is commencing today, November 14, at Kolkata's historic Eden Gardens. This encounter is particularly special as the two teams will face each other in Test cricket on Indian soil after nearly five years. The Indian team will be keen to start this series bly, aiming to maintain their winning momentum at home.
India's confidence is high following a 2-2 draw in England and a clean sweep against West Indies. Under the leadership of new captain Shubman Gill, Team India will aim to strengthen their position in the race for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2027 final. Meanwhile, the reigning WTC champions, South Africa, are not to be underestimated. This is the same Proteas team that recently defeated Pakistan in a two-match Test series.
History of Eden Gardens Pitch
The Eden Gardens pitch has always been exciting and challenging. Initially, it offers assistance to fast bowlers, while from the third day onwards, spin bowlers tend to dominate. If batsmen get set on the first day, scoring runs is easier, but as the match progresses and the pitch ages, scoring becomes more difficult.
Historically, India and South Africa have played only 3 Test matches at this venue. India has won 2 times, while South Africa has secured one victory. The last encounter was in 2010, where India won by an innings and 57 runs.
Pitch Report: Batsman vs Bowler
According to media reports, the pitch for the first Test will have grass. This means fast bowlers can exploit swing and pace on the first day. The initial two days will be challenging for batsmen, but if the team gets a good start, scoring runs will be easier in the first two days. Indian team's Assistant Coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, has stated that spin bowlers could play a crucial role on this ground.
As the pitch ages, spinners will become more dominant, and scoring runs in the third to fifth innings will become difficult. According to historical data, the average score in the first two innings is over 300, while in the third innings it's approximately 250, and even scoring 200 runs in the fourth innings becomes challenging.
India recently drew a series 2-2 in England and gained confidence with a clean sweep over West Indies. Under the leadership of new captain Shubman Gill, Team India will aim to maintain their continuous winning momentum on home soil. Key players include Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja, who can turn the tide of the match at any moment.
South Africa's team is equally challenging. The reigning World Test Champions recently put up an excellent performance in a two-match series against Pakistan. Captain Temba Bavuma is leading in Test cricket for the first time since the WTC final against Australia. Their key players, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, and Dewald Brevis, will strengthen the team.
TV and Live Streaming
The first Test will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network. Viewers can watch the match on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, and other regional channels. For live streaming on mobile and laptop, the JioHotstar app and website are available.
Probable Squads for Both Teams
India: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Vice-captain/Wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (Captain), Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Senuran Muthusamy, Wiaan Mulder, Ryan Rickelton (Wicketkeeper), Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (Wicketkeeper), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram.
