South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bat in the first Test against South Africa/India at iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This is the first Test match in Kolkata after 2019; the venue's last one was India's pink-ball game against Bangladesh in 2019. The previous red-ball Test was two years earlier, India's dramatic draw against Sri Lanka in 2017. India wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant, who got injured in England, made his Test comeback in the opening Test against the Proteas after missing out on a two-Test series against West Indies.
India vs South Africa Tests head-to-head
India and South Africa have played 17 Test series against each other since the Proteas’ readmission in 1992; notably, the home team often came out as winners. South Africa holds the edge with eight series wins and India won five, while four ended as a draw. South Africa was whitewashed 0-3 on its previous tour of India in 2019.
Captains at the toss
Shubman Gill India captain: (On losing yet another toss) I think the only toss that I'm going to win is hopefully in the WTC finals. Yeah. Looks like a good surface. Hopefully, we'll get some movement early, hopefully we're able to extract that. Dressing room is pretty amazing. This Test bunch is very hungry and is always determined to perform every time we come out.These two test matches for us are very crucial and we're as hungry as ever. Looks like a good surface. It's going to be a good surface for the first day or a couple of days. And then, hopefully, we'll get some turn as the game goes on. Rishabh comes back in place of Reddy since we last played. And Axar is also back in the side.
Temba Bavuma (South Africa captain): We will have a bat. The boys just came back from Pakistan. I was with the A team. From a preparation point of view, we've done as best as we can. It's not every day you get to play against 50,000-60,000 people in the stands. So, I'm looking forward to the challenge. Being back in India, it's always an eye-opener. Looking forward to everything. It's been sitting well at the moment (on being the World Test Champions). Hopefully, nothing really changes. For the performance point of view, work around with a lot more pride. But to keep doing what we've been doing. (On the pitch) It's on the dry side. Not much grass. It's a typical Indian wicket. First innings runs is the key. Rabada misses out, Corbin Bosch comes in his place.
India vs South Africa playing XIs
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, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.