IND vs SA, 1st Test, Match Preview, Prediction, Playing11, Pitch and Weather Report

IND vs SA 1st Test Match Preview – A new era of Indian Test cricket begins at the iconic Eden Gardens as Shubman Gill leads his side out for the first time as full-time captain against the reigning World Test Champions, South Africa. The first Test of the two-match series, starting Friday, November 14, promises a tantalizing contest between India’s formidable home record and the Proteas’ potent pace and spin attack.

All eyes will be on the return of India’s superstar wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishabh Pant, who comes back into the Test fold as vice-captain after a long injury layoff. His explosive batting and assured keeping will be a massive boost for a side blending youth and experience.

South Africa, led by the resilient Temba Bavuma, arrives in India with the confidence of WTC winners. While their last Test series in India in 2019 was a 3-0 drubbing, this Proteas unit is a different beast. Their pace attack, led by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, can trouble any lineup, and their spin trio of Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy was instrumental in their recent 1-1 drawn series against Pakistan.

With crucial World Test Championship points on the line in a short two-match series, a strong start here is imperative for both teams.

IND vs SA 1st Test Match Details

IND vs SA Head-to-Head (Test)

While South Africa holds a slender lead in the overall head-to-head record, the story is completely different in India. The hosts have been utterly dominant, winning 11 of the 19 Tests played on home soil. South Africa has not won a Test series in India since the 1999/2000 season, a statistic Gill’s team will be keen to uphold.

IND vs SA 1st Test Pitch Report: Eden Gardens

The pitch at Eden Gardens is expected to be a “good sporting wicket,” offering a balanced contest between bat and ball. The curator has prepared a black-soil surface with patches of light grass.

• Days 1 & 2: The early morning sessions will be crucial. The new ball is expected to seam and swing, with good bounce and carry for the fast bowlers. Both Jasprit Bumrah and Kagiso Rabada will be licking their lips. Slip catching will be paramount.

• Days 3-5: As the match progresses, the pitch will slow down and the footmarks will come into play. Spinners are expected to dominate from Day 3 onwards, with the black soil offering significant turn and grip.

• Toss: Winning the toss and batting first will be a significant advantage. The team batting first will aim to post a formidable 370-400+ total to put the opposition under pressure.

IND vs SA 1st Test Weather Report

The weather forecast for Kolkata is perfect for five full days of Test cricket.

• Conditions: The forecast shows “Sunny” to “Hazy Sunshine” for all five match days.

• Rain: There is 0% chance of rain throughout the Test.

• Temperature: Temperatures are expected to be pleasant, with highs around 27°C – 30°C and lows around 17°C – 18°C.

IND vs SA 1st Test Probable Playing11

India (IND): India is expected to revert to its highly successful home formula of playing three spinners and two fast bowlers. The batting lineup looks deep, with Rishabh Pant’s return strengthening the middle order.

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal

2. Sai Sudharsan

3. Shubman Gill (c)

4. KL Rahul

5. Rishabh Pant (wk/vc)

6. Ravindra Jadeja

7. Axar Patel

8. Kuldeep Yadav

9. Jasprit Bumrah

10. Mohammed Siraj

11. Akash Deep.

South Africa (SA): The Proteas will have to decide whether to back their traditional pace strength or fight fire with fire by playing two, or even three, spinners to counter India.

1. Aiden Markram

2. Tony de Zorzi

3. Tristan Stubbs

4. Temba Bavuma (c)

5. Ryan Rickelton

6. Kyle Verreynne (wk)

7. Marco Jansen

8. Keshav Maharaj

9. Simon Harmer

10. Kagiso Rabada

11. Corbin Bosch

IND vs SA 1st Test 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.

IND vs SA 1st Test Match Prediction

While South Africa carries the tag of World Test Champions, winning a Test match in India remains the toughest challenge in modern cricket. India’s batting lineup is deep and tailored for home conditions, with Jaiswal, Gill, and Pant all capable of playing match-winning innings.

The deciding factor, however, will be India’s three-pronged spin attack of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. On a pitch that will deteriorate, this trio is likely to be too hot to handle for a South African batting lineup that has shown vulnerability to quality spin.

South Africa’s only path to victory is for their pacers to strike heavily on Day 1 and their batters to score big in the first innings. This is a tall order against a team that has turned its home turf into a fortress.

Prediction: India to win.