Former opener Aakash Chopra has criticized the Indian team management for their playing XI selection in the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Chopra questioned the rationale behind including six bowlers in the squad, three of whom are spin bowling all-rounders, suggesting that the lineup resembled more of an ODI or T20I team rather than a traditional Test side.
India dominated the opening day of the match on Friday, November 14. After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, the hosts dismissed South Africa for 159 runs in 55 overs. India then ended the day at 37 for 1 after 20 overs.
Despite India’s strong performance in the field, Chopra was unconvinced by the decision to drop Sai Sudharsan in favor of playing six bowlers. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said, “There was a time when teams used to play with four bowlers and, once in a while, you used to play five. Then Kohli came in and said, I will play five. He created that template. But the new dispensation wants six bowlers. Now, we have taken Test cricket to that space where we are making ODI-type selection and T20-type selection. Let’s take a chance at No. 3 as well.”
Highlighting the bowling efforts on Day 1, Jasprit Bumrah stood out with a sensational performance, claiming 5 wickets for 27 runs from 14 overs. Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav contributed with two wickets each. When India batted, Washington Sundar was promoted to the No. 3 spot.
However, Chopra raised concerns over Sundar’s bowling workload during South Africa’s innings. “Sundar bowled only one over,” he pointed out, emphasizing the impracticality of the six-bowler policy. “When this match ends, we will say that at least two bowlers have been under-bowled. In the first innings, Washington Sundar bowled only one over. What are we doing? In the first session, we bowled 27 overs and used six bowlers. We don’t do this even in one-dayers using six bowlers to send down 27 overs.”
In the first innings, while Sundar was limited to just a single over, other spin options like Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel bowled eight and six overs respectively. Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav both delivered 14 overs, and Mohammed Siraj bowled 12.
Chopra’s critique highlights a growing debate around India’s team selection strategy in Test cricket and whether the inclusion of multiple all-rounders is truly beneficial in the longer format.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-aakash-chopra-blunt-remark-india-playing-xi-ind-vs-sa-2025-1st-test
