India, Nov. 17 -- Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin questioned the decision to leave Sai Sudharsan out of the XI for the first Test against South Africa. The team management opted for Washington Sundar at No. 3, valuing his all-round skills on a spin-friendly Eden Gardens surface. However, the planning didn't work in India's favour, with the strategy devised by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill falling flat as India suffered a home defeat.

Sudharsan made his India debut on the England tour, where he batted at the all-important number 3 position when Gill decided to take the Virat Kohli spot at number 4. The left-hander had also taken the No. 3 spot against the West Indies, where he produced a solid half-centu...