India vs Proteas1st Test: SA struggling at 129/5

Published on: 14 Nov 2025 at 01:09 PM

Published by: Fact News

Fact News Service

New Delhi, November 14: Kuldeep Yadav picks Wiaan Mulder. Earlier, South African skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bat first against Shubman Gill’s India at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, more or less confirmed this. There was some doubt about this, since first-choice wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant is making a comeback to the playing XI after sitting out the West Indies series due to the injury he suffered in the tour of England earlier this year.

Coming into the series, India are third in the World Test Championship standings with 52 points, but having played seven Tests. Meanwhile, defending champions South Africa are fifth with 12 points from two matches.

South Africa come into the two-Test series after a 1-1 scoreline in Pakistan on tour that ended on November 8th. India, meanwhile, had swept West Indies at home in their last Test series, which was also at home. It must also be noted that the two-Test series against South Africa will be the final time India play Test cricket until August 2026 (when they face Sri Lanka in a series).

Over the two Tests, the South African team will brace itself for the spinning menace of India’s bowling attack with players like Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Axat Patel in their ranks. But for a change, South Africa are also coming to India with plenty of bite from the spin department, thanks to Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthuswamy.

Teams:

South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma(c), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne(w), Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Shubhman Gill(c), Rishab Pant (w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohyammad Siraj