IND vs SA 1st Test 2025: The 1st Test between India and South Africa in the South Africa tour of India 2025 will begin on Friday, November 14, 2025, at the historic Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Both teams are ready for a strong start in the Test series, and the match promises high-quality cricket, especially with many in-form players available.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | IND vs RSA, 1st Test, South Africa tour of India 2025 |
| Date | Friday, November 14, 2025 |
| Time | 9:30 AM IST (Local) / 4:00 AM GMT |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
Venue Details: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
| Stadium | Eden Gardens |
|---|---|
| City | Kolkata, India |
| Capacity | Approx. 63,000 |
| Ends | High Court End, Pavilion End |
| Home Teams | Bengal, Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL) |
Eden Gardens is known for offering help to both spin and fast bowling as the match progresses. It starts good for batting, but after Day 2, the pitch generally provides turn for spinners.
Pitch Report
The pitch at Eden Gardens is usually flat and good for batting early on. Batters can score freely in the first two days if they show patience. However, as the match moves forward, cracks open up, and spinners get strong assistance. Fast bowlers may enjoy early swing if the morning conditions are cool.
Ideal Strategy:
- Bat first and post a big total.
- Use spinners from Day 3 onwards.
Weather Update
The weather in Kolkata around mid-November is usually pleasant.
| Day | Condition |
|---|---|
| Temperature Range | 22°C to 30°C |
| Rain Chances | Very Low |
| Humidity | Medium |
No major rain threat is expected, so a full five-day match is likely.
IND vs SA Head-to-Head in Tests
| Result Type | India | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 44 | 44 |
| Won | 16 | 18 |
| Lost | 18 | 16 |
| Drawn | 10 | 10 |
The head-to-head record is quite balanced, with South Africa slightly ahead, but India have been stronger at home in recent years.
India Predicted Playing XI
| No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KL Rahul | Opening Batter |
| 2 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Opening Batter |
| 3 | Sai Sudharsan | Top-order Batter |
| 4 | Shubman Gill (C) | Batter / Captain |
| 5 | Rishabh Pant (WK) | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| 6 | Dhruv Jurel | Batter / Backup Keeper |
| 7 | Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| 8 | Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| 9 | Kuldeep Yadav | Spin Bowler |
| 10 | Jasprit Bumrah | Fast Bowler |
| 11 | Mohammed Siraj | Fast Bowler |
Key Focus:
India’s strength comes from its spin combination (Jadeja + Kuldeep), backed by world-class pace from Bumrah and Siraj.
South Africa Predicted Playing XI
| No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aiden Markram | Opening Batter |
| 2 | Ryan Rickelton | Opening Batter |
| 3 | Tony de Zorzi | Top-order Batter |
| 4 | Temba Bavuma (C) | Batter / Captain |
| 5 | Zubayr Hamza | Middle-order Batter |
| 6 | Kyle Verreynne (WK) | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| 7 | Wiaan Mulder / Senuran Muthusamy | All-rounder |
| 8 | Keshav Maharaj | Spin Bowler |
| 9 | Simon Harmer | Spin Bowler |
| 10 | Marco Jansen | All-rounder / Fast Bowler |
| 11 | Kagiso Rabada | Fast Bowler |
Key Focus:
South Africa’s double-spin approach (Maharaj + Harmer) could be crucial on this surface.
Slight Advantage: India (home conditions + stronger spin attack)
Conclusion
The IND vs SA 1st Test in Kolkata is shaping up to be a high-quality contest between two balanced sides. The pitch will slowly turn the game toward spin, and batting well in the first innings may decide the outcome.