India went into the match with three spinners on a dry pitch expected to help slow bowling.
Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin leads the spin attack with legspinner Amit Mishra and leftarmer Ravindra Jadeja also in the lineup.
South Africa allrounder Jean-Paul Duminy and pace bowler Morne Morkel, who missed the last two one-day internationals on tour due to injuries, were not fit enough for the match.
Paceman Kagiso Rabada, who was impressive in the limited overs leg, was handed a test debut as South Africa went in with three fast bowlers and two spinners.
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