India will host South Africa in a two-Test series starting on Friday, 14 November 2026, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The series, played for the Freedom Trophy, is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle.

The schedule

  • 1st Test: 14–18 November, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
  • 2nd Test: 22–26 November, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati — the first Test ever played at the Guwahati venue
  • Format: two Tests, followed by ODI and T20I series
  • Captains: Shubman Gill leads India, with Rishabh Pant as vice-captain and wicketkeeper; Temba Bavuma leads South Africa

Why this series matters

  • South Africa are the defending World Test Championship winners, and India are currently third on the WTC 2025–27 points table
  • India come into the series in strong form after a 2–0 win over the West Indies at home and a drawn Test series in England earlier this year
  • South Africa recently drew their Test series against Pakistan 1–1
  • South Africa have not won a Test series in India in the 21st century — their last series win on Indian soil came in the 1999–2000 season
  • India and South Africa have played 44 Tests against each other: India have won 16 and South Africa 18

What to watch

The Eden Gardens pitch is expected to offer a fair contest between bat and ball, and Kolkata’s weather looks ideal for the first Test, with no rain expected and temperatures between 18°C and 28°C. Tickets for the first three days at Eden Gardens are nearly sold out. Fans can watch the matches live on the Star Sports Network, with streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

Related articles on HimachalGovt