India began their first Test against South Africa in Kolkata with a selection call that immediately set the cricket world talking. On a day when fans expected stability at the top, the team management chose to leave out young batter B. Sai Sudharsan, a move that surprised many who had followed his steady rise since the England tour. Instead of relying on the 24-year-old at one-drop, India opted to experiment with a new face in that role, likely Washington Sundar, signaling a shift in long-term planning.
Sai Sudharsan has played nine innings for India, scoring 273 runs at an average a little above 30, and has already shown promise with two half-centuries. His omission from the XI, however, didn’t sit well with some former players. Among them was Anil Kumble who openly questioned India’s decision not just to exclude Sudharsan but also to load the team with four spinners on a pitch that, according to him, didn’t demand such an approach.
Anil Kumble, speaking on a sports broadcast, said that he genuinely expected Sudharsan to play and felt India’s new No. 3 experiment raised more questions than answers. He believed that the wicket on the first day wouldn’t necessarily favour playing so many spinners and suggested that at least one of them might end up barely bowling. Kumble also pointed out that Shubman Gill’s handling of his bowlers on Day 1 would become crucial, especially since early breakthroughs would depend heavily on the fast bowlers.
Aakash Chopra too expressed his disappointment, stating that Sudharsan deserved a place in the XI. He felt India’s chosen combination would inevitably lead to under-utilising at least one bowler, if not two bowlers during the Test. In another comment, Aakash Chopra said that the decision was less about Sundar himself and more about India’s broader strategy, wondering whether Sundar was also being seen as a long-term No. 3 option in overseas conditions. He highlighted that India has tried several players in that position since Cheteshwar Pujara’s exit and the search for stability is still ongoing.
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As India stepped onto the field with this unexpected mix, the debate around their selection choices added an extra layer of intrigue to the opening day in Kolkata.
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