Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble was flummoxed with the team’s decision to leave out Sai Sudharsan from the playing XI for the IND vs SA 1st Test. In a baffling move, Shubman Gill and co. decided to go with four spinners and two pacers in the XI in Kolkata while deciding to slot Washington Sundar at number 3 instead of Sai Sudharsan. Kumble, along with Aakash Chopra, were some of the experts who were taken aback by Team India’s combination.
‘Really surprised’
Speaking on the broadcast before the start of play, Kumble opined that he was surprised with Sudharsan’s exclusion as he had expected to him to be a part of the XI in IND vs SA 1st Test. He questioned who would be batting at number 3, while adding that India didn’t really need 4 spinners and said that he was confident one of them were going to be under-bowled. This instance marks the first time that the Indian Test side has fielded six left-handed stars in Tests – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav.
“Really surprised at the lineup because I certainly expected Sai Sudarshan to be playing in this Test match. Who’s going to bat at No.3? That will be the question. Washington Sundar has been slotted to bat at No.3 so India will be bowling first. 4 spinners and 2 fast bowlers,” said Kumble.
Most left-handed stars played by India in Tests
- 6* vs SA at Kolkata, 2025*
5 vs ENG at Manchester, 2025
5 vs WI at Ahmedabad, 2025
5 vs WI at Delhi, 2025
India playing XI for IND vs SA 1st Test
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
On bench: Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Akash Deep
