IND vs SA Live Score, 1st Test Day 1: Positive start for South Africa as Markram and Rickelton settle in

FOUR! Ryan Rickelton throws his hands at a full ball outside off from Jasprit Bumrah and the outside edge flies past a diving gully to race away to the rope as South Africa keep moving. SA 47/0 in (9)

First signs of spin as Axar Patel comes into the attack and India look to slow things down after South Africa’s positive start.

BACK-TO-BACK FOURS! Aiden Markram starts with a beautiful straight drive as he puts away an overpitched ball from Mohammed Siraj and sends it racing past mid on. He follows it up in style as Siraj serves another half volley outside off and Markram leans forward to cover drive with pure timing for back to back boundaries. SA 31/0 in (6)

FOUR! Ryan Rickelton continues his solid start as he rocks back to a short wide ball from Mohammed Siraj and slaps a firm cut through point to collect his third boundary of the morning. SA 22/0 in (5.2)

FOUR! Ryan Rickelton first punishes the width from Mohammed Siraj with a sharp cut through point and then follows it with a calm push drive to long off as Siraj goes fuller. SA 14/0 in (3.2)

FOUR! South Africa are underway in unusual fashion as a low ball from Jasprit Bumrah moves away outside off and slips past the keeper to the boundary with Markram unable to get a touch. SA 4/0 in (0.2)

Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton stride out to begin South Africa’s innings as Jasprit Bumrah takes the new ball for India on a fresh morning at Eden Gardens.

Temba Bavuma looks forward to the challenge as he praises the team’s preparation and the energy of returning to India. He calls the pitch dry and typical for first innings runs as Rabada sits out with a rib issue.

Shubman Gill laughs off another lost toss as he backs his hungry Test group to make early use of the movement on offer. He expects the pitch to stay good for a couple of days with turn later as Pant and Axar return to the eleven.

South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma(c), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne(w), Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

South Africa win the toss and choose to bat in Kolkata.

Rishabh Pant’s comeback carries real emotion after battling a painful toe fracture he got in Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The 27 year old has shown immense courage through every setback and marked his return to Test cricket with deep gratitude

India vs South Africa Head-to-Head

Total Matches Played: 42, India Won: 15, South Africa Won: 17, Drawn: 10

India in WTC 2025–27:

• Drew 2–2 away in England
• Won 2–0 at home against West Indies

South Africa in WTC 2025–27:

• Drew 1–1 in Pakistan

India’s formidable batting depth will face a tough examination against South Africa’s high-quality spin attack as the evenly matched sides prepare to clash in a much-anticipated two-match Test series starting Friday.

India will still be haunted by memories of last year’s home collapse against New Zealand, where their strong home record was dismantled by Kiwi spinners Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner, and Glenn Phillips, who claimed a combined 36 wickets across three Tests, resulting in an unprecedented 0-3 whitewash.

With South Africa currently relying heavily on their spin attack, that experience of succumbing to sustained spin pressure will remain fresh in the minds of the home team.

While the reigning World Test champions have historically been celebrated for their fiery pacers, they now boast one of the strongest spin units in international cricket.