India up against WTC champions South Africa:Special coin for toss; Ravindra Jadeja only Indian from last Test here to feature in XI

The much-awaited Test series between India and South Africa is set to kick off on November 14, 2025, at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. Cricket fans across the world are eagerly anticipating this high-voltage encounter as both teams look to start the series on a strong note. The match is scheduled to begin at 09:30 AM local time, making it a prime morning fixture for Indian fans. Notably, for the first Test, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has introduced a special gold coin featuring Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela for the toss. CAB President Sourav Ganguly said the coin, symbolising peace, freedom, and non-violence, was specially created for the series. The match, part of the Freedom Trophy honouring Gandhi and Mandela’s shared legacy, marks the return of Test cricket to Eden Gardens after six years. IND vs SA, Kolkata Test, match details Date Time: 14-18 November, 09:30 AM Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata Live Streaming: Jio Hotstar, Bhaskar English (App/Website) Live Telecast: Star Sports Network IND vs SA head-to-head record India and South Africa have played 44 Test matches against each other. Out of these, South Africa have won 18, while India have claimed victory in 16. The remaining 10 matches ended in draws, showing a closely contested rivalry between the two teams over the years. WTC Champions vs India’s young brigade Team India has had a strong year, winning four of eight Tests, drawing one, and losing three, one of them during a tough tour of Australia. They bounced back impressively, drawing 2-2 in England and sweeping the West Indies 2-0. Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant have shone with the bat, while Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah have led the bowling attack. However, South Africa, the reigning World Champions, recovered from an early loss to Pakistan and now brings a strong squad featuring Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, and Aiden Markram with the bat. Meanwhile, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, and Kagiso Rabada will lead the bowling attack. Ravindra Jadeja lone Indian from last Test here The last Test that was played at this venue was way back in November 2019. Interestingly, Ravindra Jadeja happens to be the lone Indian who would feature in the side from that team that fielded in Kolkata. While the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha have retired, the likes of Mayank Agarwal, Umesh Yadav, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma no longer seems to be in the scheme of things. Only Mohammed Shami barring Jadeja from that team can still make a comeback but has not been named in the squad post an injury rehab. Eden Gardens pitch report Pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee said the Eden Gardens surface will be a balanced one, offering something for both batters and bowlers. “It will be a good sporting wicket. As the days progress, there will be some turn and bounce,” he said after India’s practice session. Mukherjee added that, like every home team, India prefers a slight turn, just as Australia favours bounce on their pitches. Kolkata weather report Friday’s weather in Kolkata is expected to be bright and sunny, providing perfect conditions for cricket. The temperature will hover around 28°C with no chances of rain, ensuring an uninterrupted match. Humidity levels will be moderate at 46%, while a gentle 10 km/h breeze will flow across the ground in the ‘City of Joy’.