"Everyone: Ashwin or Jadeja?? Gambhir: Washington!!" - Fans react to star spinners’ absence from BGT 2024-25 1st Test
Veteran Team India spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been left out of the playing XI for the first Test against Australia in Perth. Washington Sundar plays as the lone spinner in the Indian lineup.
Both Ashwin and Jadeja have been key players for Team India on home soil. However, there has been a discussion about playing one of them and resting the other when playing overseas Tests.
But this time around, India relegated both to the bench and went with Washington Sundar. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder impressed one and all with his performance in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand, picking up 16 wickets across two Tests.
Fans were disappointed with the exclusion of Ashwin and Sundar and voiced their opinion online.
Take a look at a few of the reactions below:
"Everyone: Ashwin or Jadeja?? Gambhir: Washington!!" one tweet read.
"Ashwin, Jadeja, Rohit, and Gill dropped after whitewash at home. KL promoted for no part in 3rd Test loss. Harshit Rana handed debut cap for defeating viral infection. Paddikal playing for quitting RCB and destroying LSG. We are moving" - a user had to say
"Sundar actually toppled both Ashwin and Jadeja in the lone spinner race, Gambhir has real faith in him, man, I really hope it pays off", - another user said
"It was a very brave decision to overlook R Ashwin and R Jadeja and instead opt to play with Washington Sundar, hoping he performs up to the expectations. #INDvsAUS" - a third user quipped
Team India lose early wickets on Day 1 of the first BGT 2024-25 1st Test
![KL Rahul continues to bat in the middle for the visitors [File image via Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/0211a-17322451924403-1920.jpg?w=500)
Stand-in Team India skipper Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and elected to bat first on Day 1 of the first Test at Perth.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (0 off 8) and No. 3 Devdutt Padikkal (0 off 23) were the two wickets to fall for the visitors as the score reads 14/2 after 11 overs.
Team India played the first-ever Test at the venue six years ago. Australia have won all four Tests that have been played here, and the Men in Blue will hope to become the first touring team to register a win.