India, Nov. 12 -- India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate on Wednesday all but confirmed the line-up for the opening Test match of the two-game series against South Africa, which will get underway on Friday in Kolkata. The most significant change from the last Test India played at home, against the West Indies last month in Delhi, that will be witnessed will be the absence of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, as the coach revealed that the management is keen on making a more strategic move best suited to the conditions in Kolkata, rather than giving the Andhra star another opportunity on home soil.

Hours after the press conference at the iconic venue, the Indian team management released Nitish from the Test squad. The all-rounder will j...