IND vs SA 1st Test Match: Date, Time, Squad, Predicted Playing XI, Other Details

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IND vs SA 1st Test Match Date Shubman Gill with Temba Bavuma. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

IND vs SA 1st Test Match Date, Time: Shubman Gill’s India will take on Temba Bavuma’s South Africa in the first of the two-match Test series at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday. The defending World Test Champions coming into the series have drew level against Pakistan in the previous one, and India in their last bilateral affair thumped West Indies.

All eyes will be on the Indian skipper Gill, who has been in sublime form in the red-ball format despite his white-ball shortcomings. With Dhruv Jurel coming into the side, the batting of the Indian line-up has been extended. As per the bowling, Jasprit Bumrah is always going to be a test for any opposing batting side.

Predicted XIs

India XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.

Key player to watch out:

Apart from the skipper, his deptuy will also be closely monitered by the fans and the team staff themselves. Injuries have always kept Pant out of the game regularly. With him returning to the fray for the first time after the injury he sustained during the Test series against England. In addition to his batting, his keeping will also be under observation.

South Africa XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Dewald Brevis, Zubayr Hamza, Tony de Zorzi, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer.

Key player to watch out for:

Aiden Markram has the experience of playing in the Indian Premier League, hence he will have an understanding of the conditions. He is one of the technically sound batters, not just among the South Africans but also among all the batters around the world. The innings in the WTC final have shown he is reaching the peak years of his batting career, and he will be hoping to stamp his authority in India.