WTC defending champions South Africa face a stern test as they tour India for a two-match Test series. How will they line up for the first match?
Either India or South Africa have featured in every one of the major ICC tournament finals since the start of 2024, across formats, genders, and age-groups. Thrice, they have been pitted against each other - at the 2024 men's T20 World Cup, the 2025 women's U19 T20 World Cup, and the 2025 women's ODI World Cup.
Now, the defending World Test Champions are touring India for what promises to be a high quality Test series between two growing rivals of the modern game.
South Africa would be especially confident heading into the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata after their victory in the second Test against Pakistan to draw the series 1-1 recently; even more so after their 'A' team chased down a record 417 against India A on Sunday (November 9).
Temba Bavuma, returning to lead the South Africa Test team for the first time since their 2025 WTC triumph, played in the second unofficial 'Test' for South Africa A and contributed with a crucial half-century on the fourth afternoon.
Who does he slot back in the XI for is one of the major questions South Africa have to find an answer to, along with what their preferred bowing combination would be.
South Africa squad for India Tests
Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Dewald Brevis, Zubayr Hamza, Tony de Zorzi, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer.
Here's what South Africa's XI for the Kolkata Test might look like.
Openers
Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton
Their opening combination bears a settled look with the left-right combination of Markram and Rickelton at the top. Markram will be relieved of captaincy duties with the return of Bavuma, which South Africa will hope frees him up. He got starts thrice in Pakistan but couldn't go past fifty even once, something he'd like to rectify here. It would also be the first Test tour of India for Rickelton, who averages 39.65, 13 games into his career.
Middle order batters
Tristan Stubbs, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne
This is where it gets tricky for South Africa. Tony de Zorzi was Temba Bavuma's replacement in the XI in Pakistan, but he ended up being the only centurion and the best batter of the series. Having made himself almost indispensable after those two games, de Zorzi is all but certain to retain his place, which means one of Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis could get the axe.
Stubbs has been around the Test setup for longer, having played 12 matches compared to Brevis' four. But both had similar outings in Pakistan. Both made one score of 50-plus, which came amidst three single digit scores for Stubbs and two ducks for Brevis.
Stubbs' relative experience as well as his less volatile batting style compared to Brevis could play into his favour. He has also been a teammate of Kuldeep Yadav at Delhi Capitals, who is going to be one of India's biggest weapons in the series, and South Africa would hope that his time in the IPL could help him negotiate India's trump card.
Along with the personnel, South Africa will also need to take a call on who bats where. In the first Test against Pakistan, de Zorzi batted four while Stubbs was at five. In the second Test, Stubbs went up to three. Bavuma's last Test, the WTC final, meanwhile, saw him slot in at five, which makes the expected order to be Stubbs-de Zorzi-Bavuma.
Kyle Verreynne will continue to don the big gloves and bat at six.
All-rounders
Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch
Senuran Muthusamy gave a good account of himself in Pakistan, winning the player of the series for his all-round performances. His previous tour to India, in 2019, was forgettable, something he'd be keen on correcting. He'll slot in at seven as the third spinner.
At No.8, South Africa have a choice between Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen. Bosch had an incredible start to his career last year and currently holds a batting average of 108 and bowling average of 17. But between the two, South Africa preferred Jansen over him for the second Test in Pakistan.
However, left-arm seamers haven't had a lot of success in Test matches in India. Since the start of 2020, visiting left-arm quicks average 66 in India Tests compared to an average of 36 for visiting right-arm quicks. Bosch's extra pace will be an added element that could tip the scales in his favour.
In the event that the Kolkata surface turns out to be seam-friendly track, both Bosch and Jansen would be expected to play with Muthusamy sitting out.
Bowlers
Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada
Harmer and Maharaj spun a web around Pakistan in the second Test and will lead the attack in India as well. Kagiso Rabada will take the new ball (unless it turns square from ball one), and his first competitive half-century during the Pakistan series means South Africa can officially boast of having batting depth till No.11.
South Africa predicted XI
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
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