Indian skipper Shubman Gill (left) with his South African counterpart Temba Bavuma.
Credit: PTI Photo
South Africa won the toss and and elected to bat in the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.
The Proteas arrive on the back of a morale-boosting 1-1 draw in Pakistan, achieved without captain Temba Bavuma, who returns to the side.
India are playing four spinners with Washington Sundar slotted in to bat at No.3.
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.
For the Proteas, 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.
(with inputs from agencies)