Test is back in Kolkata; after 6 years, Eden garden will be hosting India and South Africa for the first Test match of the two-match series. India comes off a 2-0 home win against the West Indies, while South Africa drew their recent series 1-1 in Pakistan. Temba Bavuma returns after injury, boosting the Proteas’ lineup. Shubman Gill leads India’s side with top-order support from Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. Rishabh Pant adds firepower, while Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj anchor the pace attack. Spin options include Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. South Africa counters with Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen spearheading pace, Aiden Markram and Bavuma anchoring batting, and Keshav Maharaj offering spin craft. When will the match be played? India will host South Africa for the first Test on November 14 at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium. The match will start on 9:30 am, with the toss being done on 9 am. Read also: Nitish Kumar Reddy Withdrawn from India Squad 2 Days Before Kolkata Test India vs SA head-to-head Out of 44 Tests, India has 16 wins, South Africa 18, with 10 draws. In India, India leads 11-5 with 3 draws. India last played South Africa in January 2024 in Cape Town where the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team defeated the hosts by 7 wickets. Pitch conditions Eden Gardens offers a balanced wicket with early seam assistance for pacers and consistent bounce for batters. Spinners may become influential later if the surface dries. According to several claims, the head coach, Gautam Gambhir was not happy seeing the pitch unwatered and dry. However, officials have confirmed the pitch will be sporting, giving both sides fair chances. Teams winning the toss might prefer to bat first to assess conditions while monitoring possible turns in later innings. Weather conditions The weather in Kolkata for the 1st Test is expected to be ideal for cricket, with temperatures around 28°C. Skies are clear, offering full playing hours without rain interruptions, and humidity levels are moderate, ensuring comfortable conditions for players and spectators alike. Where to watch the India vs South Africa 1st Test? Star Sports Network will be broadcasting the first Test between India and South Africa. Meanwhile JioHotstar will be live streaming the Test match India vs South 1st Test: Squads South Africa: Temba Bavuma (C), Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (WK) India: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK) (VC), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep