Veteran batter Hanuma Vihari criticised the Indian team management for prioritising all-rounders while picking the XI for the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens. India fielded an unusual lineup featuring four spinners, with Washington Sundar promoted to No.3 ahead of Sai Sudharsan.
Most expected India to stick to the combination used in their recent home Tests against the West Indies, with Rishabh Pant’s return being the only change. Instead, captain Shubman Gill also brought back Axar Patel, handing him his first Test appearance since early 2024.
Fans and experts have raised concerns about India’s ongoing uncertainty at the No.3 position, as Washington Sundar became the latest player to be tried there after Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair. Regarding the heavy spin setup, India bowled 29 overs of spin in South Africa’s first innings, bundling them out for 159.
Washington bowled just one over, while Kuldeep Yadav delivered 14. Vihari argued that packing the side with all-rounders is a strategy better suited to white-ball formats and stressed that Test cricket demands more specialist players.
“Never believed 4 spinners are required even on rank turners. Specialist players ln specialist position should be the case in test cricket. All rounders are fancy. White ball suits them,” Hanuma Vihari posted on X.
Never believed 4 spinners are required even on rank turners .
Specialist players ln specialist position should be the case in test cricket.
All rounders are fancy. White ball suits them.— Hanuma vihari (@Hanumavihari) November 14, 2025
Sai Sudharsan was left out of the playing XI despite delivering encouraging performances in his previous Test against the West Indies in Delhi. He had registered a career-best 87 in the first innings and added a valuable 39 during the successful chase in the second innings.
India Use Four Spinners In A Test For The First Time Since 2012
India last fielded four spinners in a Test match back in the fourth Test against England in 2012 at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur. In that game, captain MS Dhoni opted for Ravichandran Ashwin, Piyush Chawla, Pragyan Ojha, and Ravindra Jadeja on a surface that heavily favoured spin.
That lineup featured just one specialist fast bowler, Ishant Sharma, and the match eventually ended in a draw, resulting in a rare 1-2 series loss for India.
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