Eden Gardens, Kolkata is the venue for the first of two test matches between India and South Africa, the game gets under way on Friday and we take a look at the squads, recent form and the all important betting
This is a two match series which will be followed by 3 x ODI's and 3 x T20’s.
Let’s start with the squads
India: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK) (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj , Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne
India Recent Form
India hosted West Indies in a 2 match series in October, the first test was a on sided affair with India winning by an innings and 140 runs at Ahmedabad and in the second match in Delhi they came out on top by 7 wickets.
In June / July this year a 5 match series in England was drawn 2-2 and another 5 match series in Australia which started late last year saw India go down 3-1.
South Africa Recent Form
The Proteas were in Pakistan last month for two test matches on turning pitches. They lost the first test by 93 runs but squared the series with an 8 wicket victory in the second contest.
South Africa completed 2 landslide wins over Zimbabwe in July which came on the back of their finest test match achievement, a 5 wicket win over Australia in the final of the World Test Championship at Lords.
A home series against Pakistan either side of the new year saw the Proteas win the first match by 2 wickets and the second by 10 wickets.
In November / December South Africa won both test matches at home to Sri Lanka, coming out on top by margins of 233 runs and 109 runs.
Recent Head to Head
The most recent series came in South Africa over Xmas and New Year 2023/24. The Proteas won the first test by an innings and 32 runs but India squared the series with a 7 wicket win in the second match. Another home series for the Proteas in 2021/22 saw India win the first test but South Africa hit back to win 2-1.
South Africa’s last visit to India for a test series came in October 2019 and India completed a 3-0 clean sweep with 3 wide margin wins.
The Betting
As far as this 2 match series betting is concerned India are 4/10 favourites with a tie trading at 5/2 and South Africa can be backed at 10/1
To win the first test India are 3/10 the draw is 8.25/1 and South Africa are 34/10
Rabada’s price to be top SA 1st innings bowler has been boosted to 7/2 and Bumrah to be top India 1st innings bowler is also the subject of a price boost at 33/10
Prices from Sportingbet subject to change
The Verdict
A huge ask for the World Champions South Africa against a very powerful Indian side.
Going back to the 2nd test in Pakistan Tristan Stubbs, batting at 3 hit 76 for South Africa, that wasn’t the top score but an impressive innings in the conditions and one that made me take notice of his price to be top SA 1st Innings bat for the Proteas.
In the equivalent market to be top India run scorer for India, a price boost sways me towards Gill
Bet: Top SA 1st Innings Bat, Tristan Stubbs at 5/1 with Sportingbet
Top India 1st Innings Bat, Shubman Gill boosted to 4/1 with Sportingbet
