India skipper Shubman Gill and South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma  
Cricket

SA opt to bat, India pick four spinners including Axar

South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bat against India in the opening Test at the Edens Garden here on Friday.

Kolkata | South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bat against India in the opening Test at the Edens Garden here on Friday.

A fit-again Rishabh Pant, who had suffered an injury in England in July, replaced all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, while Axar Patel was back in side in place of Sai Sudharsan in the playing XI as India opted to go with four spinners.

For SA, premier pacer Kagiso Rabada missed out due to a rib injury with Corbin Bosch replacing him.

Teams:

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma(c), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne(w), Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj

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

Rajnath lays foundation stone for combat aircraft project in Andhra, calls it new chapter in India's defence history

Unemployed 'youngsters like cockroaches' become media, activists; attack system: CJI

India can play 'greater role' for peace in West Asia, says Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi

India ready to extend all possible support for peace in West Asia: PM Modi in UAE

Compromised PM didn't sign trade deal with US, but a bargain for Adani's release: Rahul