IND vs SA 1st Test, Pitch Report, Head to Head, Playing 11, AI Prediction

The highly anticipated India vs South Africa Test series is all set to begin on November 14, 2025, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Both teams are coming into this contest with strong recent performances and a clear focus on climbing higher in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings.

Match Details: IND vs SA

Detail	Information
Series	South Africa Tour of India 2025
Match	India vs South Africa, 1st Test
Date	14th November 2025
Time	9:30 AM IST
Venue	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Live Streaming	FanCode

Match Preview

India, currently third in the WTC points table with 4 wins and 2 losses, enter the series high on confidence after a convincing 2-0 series win over the West Indies. The home side has a settled unit with a mix of youth and experience.

The only squad change is the release of Nitish Kumar Reddy, which opens the door for Dhruv Jurel to bat at No. 6 — a role he’s well suited for given his recent domestic form. Skipper Shubman Gill will look to continue his fine leadership form, while the presence of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj adds firepower to India’s pace attack.

On the other hand, South Africa, the defending WTC champions, are eager to bounce back after a 1-1 draw against Pakistan. Led by Temba Bavuma, the Proteas have a balanced lineup blending experienced names like Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, and Aiden Markram with emerging talents such as Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi. They’ll aim to start the series strong in challenging Indian conditions.

Head-to-Head Record in Tests: IND vs SA

India and South Africa have faced each other 44 times in the Test format. The battle between these two giants has always been competitive.

Team	Matches Won
India (IND)	16
South Africa (SA)	18
Drawn	10

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Weather and Pitch Report: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Weather Report: The weather forecast for Kolkata looks perfect for cricket, with clear skies and temperatures hovering around 27°C. There is no rain threat, ensuring uninterrupted play.
Pitch Report: The Eden Gardens pitch is expected to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. Early on, pacers might extract movement, while spinners will gradually come into play as the match progresses. Teams will prefer to bat first, with an average first-innings score of around 325 runs at this venue.

Probable Playing 11:

India (IND) Playing 11:

1. Shubman Gill (c), 2. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3. KL Rahul, 4. Rishabh Pant (wk), 5. Dhruv Jurel, 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Washington Sundar, 8. Axar Patel, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Mohammed Siraj

South Africa (SA) Playing 11:

1. Temba Bavuma (c), 2. Aiden Markram, 3. Tony de Zorzi, 4. Tristan Stubbs, 5. Wiaan Mulder, 6. Kyle Verreynne (wk), 7. Senuran Muthusamy, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Keshav Maharaj, 10. Ryan Rickelton, 11. Simon Harmer

Who Will Win Today’s Match? (AI Prediction)

Based on team balance, home advantage, and current form, India holds the upper hand going into the first Test. Their spin department looks far stronger than South Africa’s, and the Eden Gardens pitch will likely favor India’s combination of spin and reverse swing.

AI Prediction: India to win the 1st Test match against South Africa.

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