India will face South Africa in a two-match Test series, the first fixture of which will be played from November 14 to 18 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The BCCI announced India’s squad for the two red-ball matches on November 5. In the team picked for the home series, the BCCI selectors included Rishabh Pant, but there was once again no place for Mohammed Shami, who has been in red-hot form these days. Here’s a look at India’s strongest playing XI for the two-match Test series against the WTC 2025 champions.
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal: Yashasvi is India’s highest-ranked Test batter. In eight red-ball matches played so far this year, with the help of three centuries, he has amassed a total of 662 runs. (Picture Credit: AFP)
2. KL Rahul: KL Rahul will open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal. He has amassed a total of 745 runs in eight matches played so far this year. (Picture Credit: AFP)
3. Sai Sudharsan: Sai Sudharsan scored an impressive half-century in the first innings of the Delhi Test against the West Indies and is likely to continue as a No. 3 batter against South Africa. (Picture Credit: AFP)
4. Shubman Gill (C): Shubman Gill will captain Team India in the two-match Test series against the South African team. The 26-year-old right-handed batter from Punjab has amassed a total of 979 runs in eight Tests this year. (Picture Credit: AP)
5. Rishabh Pant (WK): Rishabh Pant is back in Team India, and he will be the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter. (Picture Credit: PTI)
6. Ravindra Jadeja: World No. 1 Test all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja won the Player of the Series award against the West Indies. In 2025, he has scored 659 runs and picked up 15 wickets. (Picture Credit: AP)
7. Washington Sundar: Sundar has played a total of 15 Tests for India so far and has 35 wickets and 761 runs to his name. (Picture Credit: X/@BCCI)
8. Nitish Kumar Reddy: Since making his Test debut against Australia last year, Nitish Reddy has picked up 8 wickets in addition to scoring 386 runs in nine matches for Team India. (Picture Credit: AFP)
9. Kuldeep Yadav: Kuldeep Yadav was the highest wicket-taker in the Test series against the West Indies, and he is all set to play as a specialist spinner against South Africa. (Picture Credit: AP)
10. Jasprit Bumrah: Jasprit Bumrah is the world’s No. 1 Test bowler. He will lead India’s bowling attack against South Africa. (Picture Credit: AP)
11. Mohammed Siraj: Mohammed Siraj is the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2025. He has dismissed 37 batters in eight matches. (Picture Credit: AP)
