Overview
- The two-match series opens at Eden Gardens on November 14, with both squads in Kolkata and first training sessions slated for Tuesday.
- CAB president Sourav Ganguly said India has not asked for a rank turner, and curator Sujan Mukherjee described a sporting wicket likely to aid spin from around day three.
- Dhruv Jurel’s twin hundreds for India A and public backing from Ganguly have intensified a one-spot tussle with Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy, as Rishabh Pant returns to the side.
- South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has joined the touring party in Kolkata, with their spin options of Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy central to planning.
- Eden hosts its first Test in six years with strong early ticket sales and event plans, and the series serves as India’s final red-ball assignment of 2025 within the WTC cycle.