The first Test between India and South Africa is being played at the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. Temba Bavuma won the toss and decided to bat first. A surprising news came from the toss that Sai Sudarshan was not playing, then the question in everyone’s mind was who would bat at number three? Then when the playing 11 sheet came, it was realized that head coach Gautam Gambhir was doing a new experiment.

Temba Bavuma told at the toss that his main fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is not playing today due to rib injury. After losing the toss, Shubman Gill said, “It seems that now I will win the toss only in the final of the World Test Championship.” He expressed hope that the pitch will be helpful for fast bowlers in the opening day.

New experiment at number three

Rishabh Pant, who was injured in England, has returned, but the other wicket-keeper batsman Dhruv Jurel is also a part of the playing 11. Nitish was already out. The fans already knew all this, but the absence of Sai Sudarshan surprised the fans.

All-rounder Washington Sundar has been placed at number three in the playing 11 sheet. It remains to be seen how this new experiment of head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill will be. Let us tell you that KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal start the innings for India. Captain Gill comes at number four.

4 spinners in India’s playing 11

Talking about bowling combination, today Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj are playing as 2 fast bowlers, but there are 4 players as options for spinners. Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are playing as spinners all-rounders along with Washington Sundar. Kuldeep Yadav is also included in the playing 11.

India’s playing 11

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

Today, in the Asia Cup 2025, there is a match between India and the UAE, which will be played at the International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. In T20 International, India played its only T20 match with UAE in 2016, which won by 9 wickets. This match is considered easy for Suryakumar Yadav & Team, the pearl layer of grass on the surface of Dubai Stadium has increased the tension of Indian management. They are confused about how many spinners and how many fast bowlers should be landed in the first match. The playing 11 combination has become a math.

1. Not practiced in Dubai

Dubai International Cricket Stadium is always considered mysterious, sometimes there is a lot of runs and sometimes bowlers dominate the batsmen. Sometimes fast bowlers help and sometimes spinners get help here. This time it is also difficult that the players did not get permission to practice here. Let us know that the Team India reached Dubai last week was practicing in the ICC Academy. Indian players got to see the pitch just one day before the match. Bowling coach Morne Morkel admitted that the layer of grass is on the wicket and it increased the tension of team selection.

2. Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma, who will be wicket -keeper?

A big question is, who will be the wicket keeper in the match against UAE today? Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma. And whoever kept the wicket keeping today, there is every possibility that till the last match the same wicket will take care. Sanju was opening for a long time, but with the arrival of Shubman Gill, he will have to bat in the lower order. At the same time, there are reports that Jitesh Sharma practiced more wicket keeping compared to Sanju Samson, it seems that Sanju may not have to sit on the bench.

3. Number 8 became a headache!

The biggest difficulty number of the Indian cricket team is about 8 positions. It is possible that Shivam Dubey is chosen for this position, who is also bowling on the nets. Or to land with Jaspreet Bumrah with 2 main fast bowlers as Arshdeep Singh or Harshit Rana, so as the third fast bowler, all -rounder Hardik Pandya should be given his entire 4 overs. For a long time, Abhishek Sharma is being tried as the sixth bowler. Morkel said that due to the all -rounder, the captain’s options increase, that is why the team is trying all the combinations.

We’ve had good good preparations and time togeether as a team#Teamindia Captain Suryakumar Yadav talks about the important of preparations ahead of #Asiacup2025 @suryya_14kumar pic.twitter.com/OSU5HWCLKI

– BCCI (@Bcci) September 9, 2025

India will also select the playing 11 against the UAE keeping in mind the match with Pakistan, because there is every possibility that Team India should not change it. Morkel said that we are keeping all the options open, the final decision will be taken only after seeing the situation on the match day. He said, “Our team wants Captain Suryakumar Yadav to have more options, so that the right combination can be chosen in every situation.”

The fifth and final Test match between India and England will be played between 31 July and 4 August at Kennington Oval, London. Team India can land in this match with 4 changes, not one, two or three. Injured Rishabh Pant has already been out of the fifth Test. Now three more players are expected to be out.

According to the reports, fast bowlers Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur will be excluded in the fourth Test. The T20 best bowler Arshdeep Singh may have a Test debut. Apart from this, Akashdeep will also return to the team. There is also a news that Chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav can be given a chance in the fifth Test. He has not played in this series yet.

There will be 4 big changes in Team India!

In the fifth Test, left arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh can debut in place of Jasprit Bumrah. Apart from this, Kuldeep Yadav is likely to get a chance in place of Shardul Thakur. At the same time, Akashdeep may return to the team instead of Anshul Kamboj. Akashdeep did not play the fourth Test match due to not being fully fit. Apart from this, Dhruv will be part of Jurail playing XI in place of the injured Rishabh Pant.

India’s possible playing XI for the fifth Test- KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill (Captain), Dhruv Jurael (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Akashdeep, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj and Arshdeep Singh.

Team India’s record is like this at Kennington Oval

The last match of the five -match Test series will be played between India and England at Kennington Oval, London between 31 July and 4 August. Team India has played 15 Test matches so far on this ground. During this time, India has won only 2 Tests. India played their first Test match here in 1936.