Overview
- Temba Bavuma won the toss in Kolkata and chose to bat in the series opener.
- Kagiso Rabada was ruled out with a rib injury, with Corbin Bosch included for South Africa.
- India named four spinners—Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav—alongside pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
- Rishabh Pant returned to the XI as wicketkeeper, Dhruv Jurel retained his spot as a batter, and Washington Sundar was listed to bat at No. 3.
- Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy were omitted, and India’s XI features six left-handers, an unprecedented configuration for them in Tests.