Kolkata, Nov 13, 2025

Twenty-five years since their last Test series win in India, South Africa return with renewed belief, experience, and the ambition to end one of their longest barren runs in world cricket. The reigning World Test Championship winners, led by Temba Bavuma, will begin their 2025-26 tour at Eden Gardens on Friday, aiming to become only the second visiting side since 2012 to win a series in India.

The variety of conditions that Test cricket offers is evident from how even the world champions have struggled to compete in India. South Africa have lost six of their last seven Tests here comprehensively, and were on their way in the seventh before rain intervened.

Even within India, the Proteas’ struggles have spanned all types of conditions. In 2015-16, a young Indian sid

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