India and South Africa will squeeze in a high-quality Test series before the white-ball noise takes over. The first Test at Eden Gardens might look like a formality to some, but South Africa arrive as current World Test Championship (WTC) winners and recently held Pakistan 1-1 away. India are still the most suffocating home side in the format, and Kolkata gives them a familiar stage to flex.
India walk into the series with fewer question marks than usual. Nitish Kumar Reddy has been released from the squad, which opens the door for Dhruv Jurel. The young keeper has been in absurd red-ball form, smashing four hundreds in his last eight first-class innings, and India’s coaching staff has already hinted at Jurel starting alongside Rishabh Pant. That setup means India will try to strike a balance between maintaining their intimidating middle order and rewarding a player who has hardly put a foot wrong since his Test debut.
Match details: India vs South Africa 1st Test
- • Match: India vs South Africa, 1st Test
- • Date: Friday, 14 November 2025
- • Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- • Start time: 9.30 AM IST
- • Toss: 9.00 AM IST
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Eden Gardens has hosted more iconic Indian Test moments than any other active venue in the country, but its recent red-ball pitches have leaned towards early-morning seam movement before flattening out. Spinners grow into the game from Day 3 onward. India’s attack is built for precisely these conditions, though South Africa’s spin unit deserves respect. On the Pakistan tour, their spinners claimed 33 of 40 wickets, with Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj doing most of the damage. If Kolkata offers any bite, they will not be passengers.
India vs South Africa Test Live streaming and TV info
The opening Test will be broadcast and streamed across multiple platforms worldwide. In India, fans can watch the match on Star Sports, while digital viewers will get the game on JioHotstar.
| Region | TV Channel | Streaming Platform | Match Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports Network | JioHotstar app & website | 9.30 AM IST |
| Pakistan | — | Tapmad | 9.00 AM PKT |
| Bangladesh | T Sports | — | 10.00 AM local time |
| United Kingdom | TNT Sports | Discovery+ | 4.00 AM BST |
| USA | Willow TV | Willow app | 11.00 PM ET / 8.00 PM PT (Thursday) |
| South Africa | SuperSport | SuperSport app | 6.00 AM local time |
