Indian cricket entered a fresh chapter at Eden Gardens, where history met anticipation on a cool Friday morning. What began like any other Test quickly turned into a landmark moment, as fans realised they were witnessing something the team had never done before in all its years of Test cricket.
For the first time ever, India is playing a Test match with six left-handed batters in the same XI. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav all walked out as part of the playing XI for the opening Test against South Africa on November 14. India has occasionally fielded four left-handers in the past but this is the first time in 596 matches that six have featured together in a Test.
Ahead of the Freedom Trophy opener, team India made two significant changes. B Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy were left out, while Rishabh Pant returned to the side, this time purely as a specialist batter. Axar Patel also made his way back into the Test XI after last featuring in February 2024.
South Africa also arrived with unexpected changes in their team. Their pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada missed the Test due to a rib injury, a big blow for the visitors. However, Temba Bavuma made a comeback after skipping the previous Test series in Pakistan. Dewald Brevis was omitted and surprisingly, Senuran Muthusamy did not find a spot either, despite impressive performances with both bat and ball in Pakistan, including a standout knock in the first innings of the Rawalpindi Test.
With bold selections from both the sides and a historic lineup from India, the stage at Eden Gardens is set for a Test match that promises more than just cricket, it promises a moment to remember.
