Team India will begin their next assignment in the WTC 2025-27 against reigning champions South Africa in a two-match series beginning at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.
Both side will be making a few major changes since their last Tests against West Indies and Pakistan respectively.
For India, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is returning to Test cricket for the first time since July this year. Pant had fractured his foot in the 4th Test vs England and will be playing in his first international match since then.
Vice-captain Pant’s return to the team means that he will take over the wicketkeeping gloves from Dhruv Jurel but the latter will retain his place in the playing 11 as a specialist batter. “Well, firstly the kind of form he is in, Dhruv Jurel definitely deserves a spot in the playing 11. I believe that he will bat at number 6. The Indian top order will remain the same as what we saw in England…but number 6 spot is up for grabs where Karun was batting in England,” JioStar expert Cheteshwar Pujara said about Jurel on Thursday.
“So, I believe that Dhruv will take that spot and bat at number 6. And then, depending on the pitch, but most likely it will be three spinners and two seamers. That’s how I look at the team combination and that’s how Dhruv will pitch into this playing 11. But I definitely believe the kind of form he is in, the way he is batting, it will strengthen the Indian batting lineup,” Pujara added.
Former India batter also believes that the series will be litmus test for Sai Sudharsan at the crucial No. 3 position. “Sai is a young player who is maturing very quickly. He has shown that he has the potential. It is just about converting his starts. Once he gets that first 100, I think he will be a lot more confident,” he said.
“It’s not just about the number 3 spot, it is also about him proving that he can be part of this playing 11. Doesn’t matter whether he continues batting at number 3 or depending on the team’s requirement if the batting position changes.
“As of now, yes, he is the one who will continue batting at number 3 but Jurel is someone who has also shown a lot of potential. So if Jurel starts scoring runs, you never know, he might be batting at a different position,” Pujara felt.
Kuldeep Yadav will continue to lead the spin bowling attack with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar adding to the three-pronged attack. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will take the new-ball for India.
For South Africa, skipper Temba Bavuma is also returning from injury after missing the two-match series against Pakistan. Bavuma will be replacing young Dewald Brevis in the playing 11 while all-rounder Marco Jansen will be expected to play ahead of Wiaan Mulder, who had scored record triple ton earlier this year.
Senuran Muthuswamy, Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer will continue to lead the spin bowling attack for the Proteas.
India vs South Africa 2025 Predicted Playing 11
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Kyle Verreynne (wk), Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada