A day before the first Test against South Africa, Shubman Gill gave followers of Indian cricket a scare when he said the last spot was between a specialist spinner and an allrounder. It was a here-we-go-again moment. Surely they were not debating Kuldeep Yadav 's place in the side?

A moment of empathy later, one thought that the statement was perhaps necessitated by the need for a third seamer. That it wasn't actually India craving Axar Patel 's batting at No. 9.

When the pitch was revealed on the morning of the Test, it was apparent they didn't need a third quick. So it was indeed the worst fears. Kuldeep's place was under threat even though India had batting till No. 8.

A massive sigh of relief must have been breathed when Gill reported at the toss that they had gone from Ku

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