Kolkata is ready. At the historic Eden Gardens, where red-ball cricket always feels alive, India and South Africa lock horns in the first Test of this two-match series (Nov 14-18). India, proud of their home fortress and chasing a third appearance in the final of the ICC World Test Championship Final, know that past glories count for little unless the performance matches. South Africa arrive with swagger, fresh from clinching the WTC title and determined to prove that they are no flash in the pan.For South Africa, the challenge is steep. They have not won on Indian soil since 2010, and six of their last seven Tests here have ended in defeats. India, meanwhile, are far from invincible either. Their shock home-series loss to New Zealand last year still lingers poorly on head coach Gautam Gambhir’s tenure at the helm of affairs. The pitch at Eden Gardens is expected to favour run-making early, but wear and reverse swing could tilt the contest later. India’s XI looks settled, with the return of wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant making headlines, and Dhruv Jurel playing in as a specialist batter. On the other hand, South Africa bring experience and a spinning arsenal led by Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, sent into unfamiliar territory in hope of rewriting history.
Questions and factors to watch out for:
Will India find the consistency their home record demands?
Can South Africa unlock a winning formula in conditions that haven’t played to their strengths?
And mind the toss, with pace and swing likely in the air early, the team that bats first could gain the edge.
Predicted Playing XI:
India XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
South Africa XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Dewald Brevis, Zubayr Hamza, Tony de Zorzi, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer.
Full Squads
India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Devdutt Padikkal, Akash Deep
South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma(c), Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne(w), Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Corbin Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, Zubayr Hamza, Wiaan Mulder
