Star India batter Hanuma Vihari has said that four spinners are not required even on rank turners, adding that all-rounders are fancy and suited more to white-ball cricket, taking a subtle dig at the Indian
team management, who are playing four spinners, including three all-rounders, in the first Test against South Africa.
Most anticipated India to stick with a lineup similar to the recent home Tests against the Windies, with the returning Rishabh Pant expected to be the lone change. India’s Test skipper Shubman Gill included Axar Patel as well, marking the all-rounder’s first Test appearance since early 2024.
Regarding India’s four-pronged spin strategy, the hosts bowled 29 overs of spin in South Africa’s first innings, dismissing them for a paltry 159. Star all-rounder Washington Sundar delivered just one over, while Kuldeep Yadav handled the bulk of the workload with 14 overs.
“Never believed 4 spinners are required even on rank turners. Specialist players in specialist positions should be the case in test cricket. All-rounders are fancy. White ball suits them,” Vihari tweeted on Friday afternoon.
Never believed 4 spinners are required even on rank turners .
Specialist players ln specialist position should be the case in test cricket.
All rounders are fancy. White ball suits them.— Hanuma vihari (@Hanumavihari) November 14, 2025
Star batter Sai Sudharsan was left out of the playing XI despite a brilliant showing in his previous Test against the Windies in Delhi, where he scored a career-best 87 in the first innings and added 39 more in the second-innings chase.
Meanwhile, ace India pacer Jasprit Bumrah took a five-for as India bowled out South Africa for a paltry 159 on day one of the opening Test in Kolkata on Friday.
Bumrah’s (5/27) victims included openers Aiden Makram and Ryan Rickleton, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj (2/47), spinners Kuldeep Yadav (2/36) and Axar Patel (1/21) shared five wickets among themselves.
