Predicting India's strongest playing XI for South Africa Test series

India and South Africa will clash in a two-Test series beginning on November 14, 2025. The tour will also include three ODIs and five T20Is that will begin after the Test series ends.

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The first test of the India vs. South Africa Test series will be played from November 14 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The second Test of the series will be held at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati from November 22 onwards.

The Indian squad for the two Test series was announced recently with only the two changes from the squad that played against the West Indies. Rishabh Pant made his comeback into the Test side at the expense of N. Jagadeesan, while Akash Deep replaced Prasidh Krishna as the third pacer in the squad.

Today we take a look at predicted India’s best XI for the South Africa Test series:

KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal have been excellent as the openers, with them having hit centuries against the West Indies in the recent series. Sai Sudharsan has been backed a lot at the no. 3 spot and has started to give good returns, with a good fifty against the West Indies recently.

Shubman Gill also showed his sublime form with a century in the second Test, and he is already in a purple patch in Test cricket. Rishabh Pant will make his return to international cricket after recovering from the foot fracture he suffered in England. He has shown his fitness after leading India A to a win over South Africa A in Bengaluru recently.

Spin all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar are likely to be included in the playing XI. Jadeja was the Player of the Match in the second Test against the West Indies, while Axar Patel and Washington Sundar have been excellent with both the ball and the bat for India.

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South African batters are known to have a weakness against quality spin, and hence the Indian team would be wise to play Kuldeep Yadav as well. His wrist spin is sure to get the Proteas batters in trouble, despite their win in Pakistan recently.

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are likely to be the pacers in the Indian squad. Both had excellent performances against the West Indies recently and will look to continue the same against South Africa.

Predicted India XI for South Africa Tests:

KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

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