IND vs SA: 5 Players to watch out for in the first Test

The first Test between India and South Africa gets underway at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on November 14, and it arrives with real weight. The World Champion will go against a team that has been near impossible to defeat at home. Both teams bring strong recent form and match-winners who can swing a game single-handedly. Here are five players whose presence, form or skillset could decide how the opening contest unfolds.

1. Rishabh Pant

Pant has shown snippets of the destructive touch that made him a match-winner, and his recent outings for India A, including a gutsy half-century in one of the warm-up games, suggest his timing and confidence are returning after fitness interruptions in the England tour. 

If Pant is at the crease in pivotal moments, he has the ability to flip a session in India’s favour with brisk counter-attacking innings and sharp glovework behind the stumps. His form and fitness will be a big storyline going into Kolkata. He remains one of the biggest match-winners among both teams.

2. Kagiso Rabada

Rabada remains South Africa’s go-to strike bowler in Tests and has not just been Africa’s finest but among the world’s as well. He combines pace, an aggressive mindset and the knack for late-match breakthroughs. His performances across the WTC cycle and in key away tours underline that he can be especially lethal on surfaces offering seam or variable bounce. 

Expect Rabada to be the primary wicket-taker for the Proteas, especially with the new ball and in short bursts where his aggression forces mistakes. The possibility of reverse swing at Eden Gardens can further make him a dangerous weapon for the Proteas.

3. Yashasvi Jaiswal

Jaiswal has developed into one of India’s most productive young Test openers at home as well as away, producing big runs in recent seasons and showcasing the temperament to bat long. He’s also shown the ability to shift gears, piling up big scores in home conditions and even producing innings that feature audacious hitting when required. 

At Eden Gardens, his proficiency against spin and patience against the new ball will be crucial in setting the tone for India’s batting innings. He would like to continue with his red-hot form in the format.

4. Aiden Markram

Markram arrives off a purple patch in big matches, including a headline-winning century in the World Test Championship final that underlined his ability to hold an innings together under pressure. 

He mixes disciplined defence with the capacity to accelerate when conditions allow, which is a blend that makes him a natural candidate to blunt India’s attack and build the partnerships South Africa will need to post a big first-innings total. His approach will be central to how the Proteas navigate spinning tracks and long sessions in India.

5. Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja is the archetype of a home-Test match impact player. He is economical, relentless with left-arm spin, and useful with the bat in the lower middle order. On Indian wickets, his accuracy and ability to bowl long, pressure-building spells often force mistakes from batters. 

Beyond his bowling, Jadeja’s presence deep in the order supplies India with crucial runs and balance, which can allow India to play an extra seamer or a specialist batsman, depending on conditions. Expect him to play a major role across both innings.

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