Despite strong results, India’s Test team balance looks uncertain — four spinners in Kolkata spark debate over selection strategy.
Test cricket holds its own significance and is widely regarded as the purest and most demanding format of the sport. It challenges players on every front, and success usually comes from solid planning rather than constant experimentation.
However, Team India’s team management now seems to be moving in a different direction, a shift clearly reflected in the squad chosen for the first Test vs South Africa.
Despite India being in a strong position after Day 2 and seemingly on track for a win, the bigger question remains: was the team combination for this Test truly the right one?
Experimenting with batting positions
One of the most glaring points of contention in the current Test lineup is the exclusion of Sai Sudharsan from the playing XI in the first Test. Sudharsan, who did not really shine but definitely had shown promise with an impressive 87-run innings in the earlier Test against the West Indies, was surprisingly left out.
The no 3 batting position is a role traditionally known as the backbone of any Test batting order. This spot demands a player who can anchor innings through challenging phases, but instead, the spot saw Washington Sundar coming to bat against the Proteas on day 1. This constant experimentation at a pivotal position is a concern.
Read More: IND vs SA 2025-26, 1st Test, Day 2: South Africa in disarray at 93-7, courtesy Jadeja’s 4-29
Top three Test pacers at Eden Gardens, Kolkata since Jan 1, 2012
| Player | Inns | Wkts | Avg | SR | 5W | BBI |
| M Shami | 08 | 23 | 19.39 | 31.50 | 01 | 5/47 |
| B Kumar | 06 | 16 | 14.06 | 31.80 | 01 | 5/48 |
| U Yadav | 04 | 11 | 16.90 | 25.10 | 01 | 5/53 |
The spinners, have struggled immensely at this ground in the last 13 years. Former India off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, has bagged 14 wickets in eight innings at a high average of 32.50 and an average strike rate of 64.50.
Top three Test spinners at Eden Gardens, Kolkata since Jan 1, 2012
| Player | Inns | Wkts | Avg | SR | 5W | BBI |
| R Ashwin | 08 | 14 | 32.78 | 64.50 | 00 | 3/46 |
| P Ojha | 04 | 06 | 40.16 | 95.00 | 00 | 4/142 |
| Shillingford (WI) | 01 | 06 | 27.83 | 55.00 | 01 | 6/167 |
Abundance of all-rounders
The bigger issue lies in the preference for fielding an abundance of all-rounders in Test matches. The recent XI boasted four spinners, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav, out of which three are all-rounders. Notably, the team only went with two pacers, including Jasprit Bumrah, the standout performer who got a brilliant five-wicket haul in the first innings at Eden Gardens.
Test cricket traditionally demands specialists, batters who can build innings and bowlers who can exploit conditions, rather than multipurpose players who try to do both. This strategy seems to mirror the current T20I approach, where the emphasis is on versatile players.
However, the dynamics of Test cricket require patience, skill, and consistency, traits more commonly found in specialists. The decision to persist with multiple all-rounders destabilizes the team balance and puts undue pressure on the top order and the fast-bowling department.
Moreover, the over-reliance on all-rounders has resulted in a batting lineup consisting mostly of players with similar styles and temperaments. This reduces the diversity required in a Test batting order, where a mix of aggressive stroke-makers, steady accumulators, and defensive stalwarts ensures adaptability across different situations.
The current approach by India has shown instability, with frequent changes in the playing XI. The constant chopping and changing erode team confidence and deny players the continuity needed to settle into their roles. Test cricket is a format where long-term planning and trust in the squad members are key to building a formidable unit. Unfortunately, the current management’s strategy appears too reactive and short-sighted, focusing more on instant fixes rather than long-term solutions.
Read More: IND vs SA 2025-26, 1st Test, Day 1: Bumrah fifer blows away SA for 159; India 37-1 at stumps
