India and South Africa are set to begin their two-match Test series on Friday the 14th of November, at Eden Park. Both teams have enjoyed strong performances in 2025 and will look to continue their momentum into this showdown. We will take a look at the opening Test from a betting perspective below.
INDIA
India enter this series on a high after a dominant home season, which included comfortable Test victories over the West Indies in October, winning by an innings and 140 runs and then by 7 wickets a few days later.
Earlier in the year, they competed against England away from home, winning two Tests and drawing one in a five-match series that highlighted their resilience under pressure but also indicated areas in their lineup that needed attention. Their most notable match of the five was a 336 run triumph at Edgbaston in the second Test.
Shubman Gill will captain the side that will be eager to showcase a refreshed approach in red ball cricket. The top order looks solid with Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Sai Sudharsan, while the likes of Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel add youthful depth to the batting lineup.
The all-round strength of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar gives India flexibility, while the bowling attack looks formidable. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will lead the pace, with the spin duo of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav being crucial if the surface begins to wear later in the match.
India Test Squad: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), 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
South Africa come into this series full of confidence after an excellent run of Test form in 2025. They followed up a historic five-wicket victory over Australia at Lord’s with a dominant tour of Zimbabwe, claiming back-to-back wins at the Queens Sport Club. The first match was won by 328 runs and the next saw them put in a huge shift to claim victory by an innings and 236 runs.
They also showed decent form in Pakistan last month, levelling the two-match series 1-1 after a convincing win by eight-wickets at Rawalpindi to end off the series.
Skipper Temba Bavuma leads an exciting and well-rounded squad, featuring a blend of experience and youthful talent. Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi form the backbone of the batting order, while Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs add flair in the middle. The inclusion of Ryan Rickelton and Zubayr Hamza also strengthens the lineup’s stability.
In the bowling department, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen will spearhead the pace attack, supported by all-rounders Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder. Spin duties will be handled by the experience of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, offering variation and control.
South Africa Test Squad: 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 (wk).
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The last Test meeting between these two sides came in January 2024, where India claimed a 7-wicket victory in Cape Town to draw the series 1-1. Prior to that, South Africa had dominated at home, winning the first Test by an innings and 32 runs at SuperSport Park.
BETTING – click here to bet
India 1.29
Draw 11.00
South Africa 4.75
South Africa have defied the odds on multiple occasions but their poor record in 1st tests stops me short of backing them and I will focus on some of the other markets available.
SUGGESTED BETS
Top India Batter – Shubman Gill at 4.25
Gill has shown growing maturity over the years and has enjoyed a decent 2025 in terms of form. I believe his compact technique and patience make him a strong candidate to anchor India’s innings.
Top South Africa Bowler – Kagiso Rabada at 4.25
Rabada’s pace and experience are unmatched. With his ability to exploit bounce and seam movement, he remains one of South Africa’s most reliable wicket-takers.
Note: All odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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