IND vs SA, 1st Test: Four spinners and Washington Sundar at No.3! Gautam Gambhir makes bold choice

Team India’s playing XI in first Test against South Africa has raised many questions as all rounder Washington Sundar is most likely to bat at no. 3 while Sai Sudharsan who was supposed to bat on this position is excluded. The decision has sparked immediate debates among fans and experts, especially as India have also opted for a spin heavy attack for the series opener.

India’s selection seemed heavily dependent on the conditions of Kolkata which are traditionally assisted spin as the match will progess. With Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav already at the helm, the management opted for an additional option with Sundar in both batting and bowling. His ability to bat long under pressure and bowl tight spells convinced selectors to go with the seasoned all rounder. Sai Sudharsan, despite a decent start to his Test career, finds himself on the bench for the contest. Team India has prioritised an all rounder rather than a pure batter to add more depth in the bowling department.

The decision didn’t go well with many fans and they questioned Gambhir’s decision to drop Sai Sudharsan and play bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar in his place who is not even a specialist batter.

The Eden Gardens pitch is more aligned towards spin and this might be the reason that head coach Gautam Gambhir went in a different direction to play four spinners. A black-soil pitch, with light grass cover, is expected to ensure seam movement during the morning sessions over the first two days. The fans are eager to see how Sundar performs against the Proteas full stretched bowling unit.