India vs South Africa: Rain Gods came in uninvited at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam post-tea on Day 1 of the first Test.

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While Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal putting on 202 runs on the scoreboard, legendary Indian cricketer and commentator Sunil Gavaskar spoke about how good the partnership has been.

However, he also expressed his views about the Virat Kohli-led team’s rise to the top. While the team has seen a lot of success under Kohli, Gavaskar expressed his concerns on the constant changing of the playing XI.

Gavaskar suggested that the chopping and adding new players to the squad every match may affect the confidence of players who are made to sit out despite good performances.

Speaking to the official broadcasters Gavaskar spoke about Ravichandran Ashwin. He said that the bowler should be a regular in India’s test XI anywhere in the world. 

“You don’t become ICC’s No. 1 Test bowler for nothing. He has the ability to pick wickets anywhere in the world. The team management has to understand this and back him,” Gavaskar said.

Ashwin has been added to the squad against Proteas and is playing his first Test of 2019 after warming the bench in the Windies. The off-spinner last played in Australia in December 2018. 

Gavaskar also spoke about Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Murali Vijay.

“I remember last year in South Africa Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up a lot of wickets in the first Test, he really swung the ball but he was dropped for the next Test. Murali Vijay too I believe should have been given a longer run.

“Selection has to be in such a way that the confidence of the player is not down. I mean there may be communication inside the dressing room which we are certainly not aware,” Gavaskar said.