India vs South Africa, 1st Test, South Africa tour of India, 2025

India’s aim to extend its good record against South Africa  

Betting Odds

Our Predictions 

• The odds of the toss winner being the match winner are 2.42 
• The odds of the toss winner not being the match winner are 8.70 
• The odds of the first boundary being a four are 1.02 
• The odds of the first boundary being a six are 13.00 

MATCH PREVIEW     

The Indians are back home for the two-match Test series against South Africa. The hosts will aim for an early lead in the 1st test Match at the Eden Gardens. They have done well in recent games and defeated the West Indies at home last month. The odds are in their favor, given their excellent home record against the South Africans. The batting lineup has done well in the last six months, which will make the team more confident. The South Africans will battle tough conditions in this game, and it will be interesting to see if they can overcome their poor record against spin bowling and surprise the Indians.  

India Preview      

Shubman Gill has enjoyed a great year as a batter and a captain, and he will look to extend that in this series. They were clinical in their last home series against West Indies and shall start the game as favorites on cricket betting sites. The South Africans are a strong team and shall fight hard in this game. Gill would look to lead from the front in this game and take his team to victory.  

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul have made more than 1200 runs this year, and the pair will look to lay a strong foundation. Shubman Gill has enjoyed sublime form this season, and he will look to do well in the middle order with Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel. Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel have batted well this year and add solidity to the batting lineup.  

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj will look to strike early with the new ball, as there isn’t much on this track for the fast bowlers. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav like bowling on such tracks, and they must inflict maximum damage on South Africa. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar add to the team’s bowling options, making it strong.  

Expected Starting XI for India     

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

South Africa Preview     

Temba Bavuma faces one of his challenges as the South African Test captain. The side hasn’t won a Test Match in India in the last 15 years and has suffered whitewashes in their last two tours. The batting lineup will face a tough test against the Indian spinners. They will start behind the Indians on cricket betting apps, and Bavuma would like his players to show their character and surprise the Indians.  

Ryan Rickelton did well in the last series, and the team needs him to play well against the new ball alongside Aiden Markram. Temba Bavuma’s return strengthens the batting, and he must add runs with Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi. Kyle Verreynne, Tristan Stubbs, and Senuran Muthusamy must negotiate the Indian spin attack and add runs in the lower middle order.  

The South African bowlers have struggled on the last two tours and must bowl well. Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder will look to do well with the new ball and put the Indians under pressure. Senuran Muthusamy did well in Pakistan in the last series and shall look to do the same with Keshav Maharaj. Simon Harmer must deliver in his responsibility as the 5th bowler.   

Expected Starting XI for South Africa     

Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Ryan Rickelton, Simon Harmer  

TOSS: To Bat First      

The wicket will be good for batting on the first two days, as is the norm in India. Spinners will get into the act from the third day, and chasing a total on this surface in the last innings won’t be easy. The team winning the toss would look to bat first in this game.  

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

We expect clear skies on all days. It will be a flat surface to begin with, where the batsmen will be able to do well once they get their eyes set in. Spinners will benefit greatly from this surface. The team batting first in this game would look to have 400 runs on the board.  

OUR PREDICTION      

The South Africans have a poor record in India, having not won a Test Match since 2015. They have struggled against the Indian spinners and need to bat well to have a chance. The Indians have won the last 7 of 8 games against the South Africans at home. Their top order has done well in the last few months. Though the South Africans will fight hard, the Indians will start as favorites.  

Our prediction is for India to win