Sai Sudharsan dropped, Dhruv Jurel in

India cricket team have made a few surprising changes to their playing XI for the IND vs SA 1st Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Captain Shubman Gill once again lost a toss and has been asked to field first in the contest. Interestingly, Sai Sudharsan has been dropped from the playing XI and Washington Sundar has been slotted to bat at number 3.

India playing XI for IND vs SA 1st Test

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
On bench: Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Akash Deep

India have decided to go with four spinners in their XI – with Kuldeep set to spearhead the attack. Other spinners include Axar, Jadeja and Sundar. Gill has also decided to go with just two pacers for the IND vs SA 1st Test which means once again Bumrah and Siraj will have to put in the hard yards.

Jurel, who has been sensational off late with the bat, has made it to the playing XI and will play alongside Pant. Meanwhile, Sundar has surprisingly been slotted to bat at number 3 – a position that was previouslu occupied by Sudharsan.

IND vs SA squads

India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Devdutt Padikkal, Akash Deep

South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma(c), Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne(w), Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Corbin Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, Zubayr Hamza, Wiaan Mulder