New Delhi, Nov. 14 -- Fans and experts were taken by surprise when Sai Sudharsan was left out of India's playing XI for the first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday. With Sudarshan missing, India fielded four spinners - Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, three of them pure all-rounders.

Sai Sudharsan, who made his Test debut in England in June, has been in and out of the Indian side. His last appearance came against the West Indies at home, where he scored 87 in the first innings of the second Test.

In his absence, India have promoted Washington Sundar to bat at no 3, following openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. Captain Shubman Gill will bat at no 4. Sundar's maiden Test...