1st Test: India aim solid start as South Africa bank on spin strength at Eden Gardens

NEW DELHI: India’s formidable batting line-up will be up against a quality South African spin attack when the evenly-matched sides meet in the opening Test of the two-match series starting at Eden Gardens on Friday.

The home side will be keen to avoid a repeat of last year’s collapse against New Zealand, when Kiwi spinners Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips shared 36 wickets across three Tests to inflict a 0-3 whitewash on Indian soil.

Given South Africa’s current faith in spin, that painful memory is bound to linger for Shubman Gill and his men.

South Africa’s spinners ready for subcontinent challenge

Traditionally known for their fiery pacers, the Proteas arrive with one of the most potent spin arsenals in world cricket. Their recent 1-1 draw in Pakistan, achieved without captain Temba Bavuma, underlined that strength.

The spin trio of Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy accounted for 35 of the 39 wickets taken in the series, outperforming Pakistan’s own slow bowlers, who claimed just 21 between them.

India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate described the South African attack as “subcontinent-style,” saying, “They have got four spinners at their disposal, and most likely they will play three. It’s a little bit like playing against a subcontinent team. We’ve addressed that early on. Hopefully, we’ve learned from the New Zealand series.”

Veteran off-spinner Harmer, who played in the 2015 series under Hashim Amla, knows Indian conditions well. Then, as a 26-year-old, he dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha. Ten years later, Harmer remains just as sharp, coming off an eight-wicket haul in Rawalpindi that helped South Africa level the series.

His control and drift complement Maharaj’s accuracy and attacking style, making them a formidable pair.

Eden pitch under spotlight as India weigh options

The Eden Gardens surface has become the centre of attention ahead of the first Test. While Shubman Gill and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak have made multiple pitch inspections, Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly has assured it “won’t be a rank turner.”

That will please Jasprit Bumrah, who could prove decisive on a surface that offers both early movement and reverse swing later on. India are expected to play two pacers, with local boy Akash Deep likely to partner Bumrah given his familiarity with the conditions.

Over the past 15 years, pacers have taken 61 per cent of wickets in Tests at Eden Gardens, reinforcing the value of seam and swing in both new and old-ball phases.

While India drew 2-2 in England earlier this year under Gill’s leadership, the shadow of last year’s home defeat to New Zealand still looms large. Their 2-0 win against a weak West Indies side offered little insight into their progress.

With Rishabh Pant back and Dhruv Jurel likely to play as a specialist batter, India’s middle order looks steadier. Washington Sundar, who topped India’s bowling charts in that New Zealand series with 16 wickets, adds both spin and batting depth.

Ten Doeschate emphasised mental preparation after a demanding schedule, saying, “You’ve got to switch on mentally and be ready for 16–17 days of really tough work. The body will take care of itself — the mind has to be ready.”

With just two Tests in the series, the margin for error is minimal. Falling behind early could prove costly, especially with the second Test set for Guwahati, which will host its first-ever Test match.

For India, batting big and putting South Africa under scoreboard pressure remains the surest way to banish the ghosts of last year’s collapse.

Teams (from)

India: Shubman Gill (Capt), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (WK and VC), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Devdutt Padikkal.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (Capt), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Dewald Brevis, Zubayr Hamza, Tony de Zorzi, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer.

Match starts: 9:30 AM

(With PTI Inputs)