IND vs SA 2025: Skipper Temba Bavuma joins Proteas squad ahead of Kolkata Test

Published - 10 Nov 2025, 20:37 IST | Updated - 10 Nov 2025, 21:14 IST

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma joined the national squad in Kolkata on Monday morning, completing the visitors’ full-strength line-up ahead of the first Test against India, set to begin at the Eden Gardens on Friday, November 14. Bavuma, who recently featured for the South Africa ‘A’ team in their unofficial Test series against India A in Bengaluru, was the final member to link up with the senior side.

The first group of South African players, including head coach Shukri Conrad, and pacers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, along with members returning from the white-ball series in Pakistan, had arrived in Kolkata on Sunday morning.

Bavuma, who missed the start of South Africa’s World Test Championship (WTC) campaign in Pakistan due to a calf strain, marked his return to competitive cricket through the ‘A’ series. His inclusion now strengthens South Africa’s batting unit and brings valuable leadership experience as the team looks to make a strong start in the high-stakes two-match Test series against India.

"Bavuma, along with another player and a few officials, arrived this morning from Bengaluru. Most of the squad, including the head coach, had already checked in on Sunday. South Africa now have their full contingent in. There's no activity scheduled at Eden today. Most likely, both teams will have their first training session on Tuesday," Proteas' local manager told as quoted by India Today.

Bavuma, playing under Marques Ackerman’s leadership, showcased his resilience with a gritty 59 off 101 balls in the second innings of the second unofficial Test in Bengaluru, helping the South Africa ‘A’ side clinch a five-wicket win and level the series 1-1. His composed knock under pressure reaffirmed his readiness for the upcoming Test series against India.

Middle-order batter Zubayr Hamza, another standout performer from the ‘A’ squad, has also joined the main team. Renowned for his ability to handle spin, Hamza made notable contributions in both matches, including a crucial 77-run innings in the final game at the Centre of Excellence.

On the Indian side, the first batch of players, including captain Shubman Gill, head coach Gautam Gambhir, Jasprit Bumrah, and all-rounders Washington Sundar and Axar Patel, reached Kolkata late on Sunday after their limited-overs tour of Australia. The remaining members, such as Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Dhruv Jurel, are expected to arrive soon.

Both teams will begin their first training sessions at Eden Gardens on Tuesday as preparations intensify for the opening Test, starting Friday.

The series marks India’s final red-ball assignment of 2025 before they face Afghanistan in June 2026. For South Africa, this will also be their last Test series of the year, with their next engagements set for September 2026, hosting Australia and England in back-to-back series.