NEW DELHI: The countdown has well and truly begun for a thrilling red-ball contest at the iconic Eden Gardens, where India will take on the defending World Test Champions, South Africa, from November 14.

Excitement is building across Kolkata as the city prepares to host the return of Test cricket, with fans eagerly awaiting the first ball at one of the game’s most historic venues.

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Back home, back at it

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shared a new video on X, capturing the energy and emotion of Team India’s homecoming. Captioned “Back home. Back at it. Test cricket vibes,” the video beautifully sets the tone for the upcoming series.

Here's the video:

The clip opens with glimpses of the Eden Gardens groundstaff hard at work (painting boundary lines, rolling the surface, setting up cables and equipment) as they ready the stadium for the big occasion. It then transitions into a lively montage of the Indian players warming up under the watchful eye of head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Jasprit Bumrah is seen steaming in at full rhythm, while Yashasvi Jaiswal works on his footwork in the nets. Dhruv Jurel sharpens his keeping drills, Ravindra Jadeja polishes his all-round skills, and Sai Sudharsan puts in solid training sessions with bat.

The video ends with the message “Back Home in Whites”, capturing the spirit and pride of representing the nation in the purest form of the game.

India vs South Africa Test series schedule

India will open their two-match Test series against South Africa on November 14 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The first Test begins at 9:30 AM (IST), with the visitors set to challenge India in what promises to be a high-intensity contest.

The second and final Test will be played in Guwahati at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium from November 22, starting at 9:00 AM (IST). The series marks India’s final red-ball assignment of the year.