• Home
  • Match Hub
  • Ind Vs Sa Statistical Preview Key Stats Records And Head To Head Ahead Of 1st Test

IND vs SA statistical preview: Key stats, records and head-to-head ahead of 1st Test

Akshita Patel

India to play South Africa in first Test [Source: AFP Photos]India to play South Africa in first Test [Source: AFP Photos]

India is all set to host South Africa in the first Test of the two-game series at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The match will be held from November 14 to 18 at 9:30 AM IST.

India

India have enjoyed a solid run of form this year, playing eight matches with four wins, three losses, and one draw. One of those defeats came during a tough tour of Australia, but the team has bounced back impressively since then. They managed a 2-2 draw in England and followed it up with a 2-0 series win over the West Indies. 

South Africa

The World Test Champions had a mixed start to their campaign, losing the first Test against Pakistan but responding strongly with a win in the second. This tour to India features one of the strongest South African sides in recent years. 

For the Proteas, Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram have been the key run-scorers, while the bowling attack has been anchored by Kagiso Rabada, alongside spinner Keshav Maharaj.

IND vs SA head-to-head overview

India played a total of 44 Tests against South Africa from 1992 to 2024. The Proteas won 18 games, while India settled for 16 victories, as 10 contests also ended in draws.

Eden Gardens Kolkata pitch report

The Eden Gardens pitch promises an exciting battle between bat and ball. While spin is expected to come into play from day three onwards, the first two days could heavily favour fast bowlers, with early swing and seam movement aided by Kolkata’s breeze and surface moisture. 

Both captains are likely to unleash their pacers early, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj leading India’s attack and Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen doing the same for South Africa.

India and South Africa probable playing XI

India

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

South Africa

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

Top run-scorers in IND vs SA Tests

We are only considering the players from the current squad

Temba Bavuma - 373 runs

South African captain Temba Bavuma is leading the charts with 373 runs in 14 Test innings against India with 33.90 average and two half-centuries.

Aiden Markram - 373 runs

Aiden Markram has also scored 373 runs versus India in 19 Test innings at 19.63 average with one hundred and a half-century.

KL Rahul - 369 runs

India’s technically sound opener KL Rahul has slammed 369 runs in 13 Test innings vs South Africa with 28.38 average, two hundreds and a half-century.

Top wicket-takers in IND vs SA Tests

We are only considering the players from the current squad

Kagiso Rabada - 55 wickets

South African speedster Kagiso Rabada has dominated India with 55 wickets in 25 Test innings alone. He maintained a 22.60 average, 3.01 economy and also picked a five-wicket-haul.

Ravindra Jadeja - 42 wickets

India’s veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has scalped 42 wickets in 15 Test innings against the Proteas at 19.09 average and three five-wicket-hauls.

Jasprit Bumrah - 38 wickets

India’s modern-day great Jasprit Bumrah has dismissed 38 South African batters in 15 Test innings with 20.76 average and three five-wicket-hauls.

IND vs SA key stats

India key records

  • Shubman Gill, the captain, is in the form of his life. In 15 Test innings played so far in 2025, he has amassed 979 runs at 69.92 average, five hundreds and a fifty.
  • Mohammed Siraj has been India’s workhorse this year with 37 wickets in 262.3 overs bowled across 15 innings. He also maintained a 26.91 average and grabbed two five-wicket-hauls.
  • Ravindra Jadeja will have a key role to play, as in India, he has previously accumulated 246 wickets at 20.91 average and 13 five-wicket-hauls. 
  • Against South Africa, KL Rahul is the only batter from the current squad to have hit multiple centuries, amassing a total of 369 runs.
  • Aiden Markram vs Mohammed Siraj - 32 runs, 47 balls, 3 dismissals
  • Temba Bavuma vs Ravindra Jadeja - 28 runs, 95 balls, 2 dismissals
  • KL Rahul vs Kagiso Rabada - 96 runs, 222 balls, 1 dismissal
  • India have played 42 Tests at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, winning 13 while losing 9 games, as 20 contests ended in draws.

South Africa key records

  • Wiaan Mulder has had a breakout 2025 season with 586 runs in just 8 Test innings. He has a 83.71 average with 78.86 strike rate along with 2 hundreds.
  • With the ball, Keshav Maharaj has picked 19 wickets in 8 Test innings played in 2025 with 24.42 average and 1 single five-wicket-haul.
  • In India, Maharaj has bowled 127 overs, picking 6 wickets with a 3-wicket-haul.
  • Simon Harmer has played just 2 Tests in India but managed to scalp 10 wickets at 25.40 average and a four-wicket-haul.
  • Ravindra Jadeja vs Kagiso Rabada - 19 runs, 51 balls, 2 dismissals
  • Rishabh Pant vs Kagiso Rabada - 56 runs, 90 balls, 2 dismissals
  • Aiden Makram vs Jasprit Bumrah - 99 runs, 157 balls, 2 dismissals
  • At Eden Gardens, South Africa have featured in 3 Tests, winning one while losing two games.

Records that can be broken in IND vs SA 1st Test

  • Shubman Gill is 21 runs away from completing 1000 Test runs in 2025.
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal is 72 runs away from completing 2500 Test runs.
  • KL Rahul is 15 runs away from completing 4000 Test runs.
  • Ravindra Jadeja is 10 runs away from completing 4000 Test runs.