The first and inaugural Test of the four-match series between host India and South Africa will be played at Mohali Cricket Ground in northern Indian state of Punjab Thursday.
Watch the live stream here and live scores here. The five-day match starts at 9:30 a.m. local time (4 a.m. GMT) on Thursday, Nov. 5 ( 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Nov. 4 ).
India is now desperate to win the inaugural match as it has already lost the One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International ( T20I) series against South Africa.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli is likely to continue with the five bowlers policy. "...if we have six batsmen and one wicketkeeper then even if you score 500 runs, but are a bowler short, then more often than not there will come a session when you will give away too many runs and will not get a wicket," Kohli told reporters during pre-match media interaction in Mohali, according to ABP Live.
"So, I think the top-five batsmen should take more responsibility of scoring runs. Along with the wicketkeeper, it becomes six batsmen and your all-rounders also contribute," he added.
South Africa is hoping to continue it's winning streak during the India tour. However, the visitors suffered a blow ahead of the opening Test as spin bowler JP Dumity was ruled out of the match due to injuries. Seam bowler Morne Morkel also remains doubtful over fitness issues, according to IBN Live.
South African skipper Hashim Alma said that he will rely on a seam bowling attack.
"South Africa's history has been that we have been very good with our seam bowlers wherever in the world we have been. So if seamers do the job for you in the sub-continent or anywhere else in the world so be it," he said Wednesday, according to Firstpost.
The probable squads:
India
Shikhar Dhawan, Murli Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
South Africa
Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla , AB de Villiers, Temba Bavuma, Dane Vilas, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Simon Harmer, Imran Tahir.
