Prasad's nearly four-year tenure as a chief selector ended in March 2020.
Reflecting on his nearly four-year tenure as a chief selector of the Indian cricket team, MSK Prasad on Monday (June 7) said he did take some tough decisions while serving the role, even against the “legends of the game”.
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After India’s 2019 World Cup campaign, the Prasad-led selection panel decided to overlook MS Dhoni in India’s white-ball squad and the great wicketkeeper-batsman eventually quit international cricket in August 2020.
“During the course of your journey as a selector, you will have to take some tough decisions even against the legends of the game in the interest of the future of Indian cricket,” said Prasad, whose tenure ended in March last year.
“Identifying the right successor is the most important job of a selector. You have to be dispassionate as a selector and can’t be emotional about taking tough decisions. And the reason for having a selection committee is to create successors. There can’t be another Dhoni or Sachin [Tendulkar] as they are very unique and their contribution is invaluable and no one can question that,” Prasad told cricket.com.
Team India have qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) final on the back of some remarkable performances in home and away conditions over the last two years.
When asked if he feels disappointed that his contribution is not appreciated, Prasad replied: “You need to do what you are supposed to do. Our deeds are there to see. If seven superstars of the Indian team don’t play in an important match, seven youngsters step in their place [the 2020-21 Australia tour] from India A and win you the game, it is a big compliment for our hard work. Whether people believe it and speak about it or not is immaterial as long as results are there to see.”
Prasad said he was elated to see the India team make it to the WTC final, based on the performance of the last two years when several youngsters were handed debut caps.
“There are no two ways about it. The amount of satisfaction and happiness you get from this. From the selection point of view, we did our best. We played our little part in helping this Indian team play the final of the World Test championship. This team thoroughly deserves it since they have been number one for the last four years. Now, I can’t wait to watch the final,” he remarked.
Team India will take on New Zealand in the WTC final in Southampton from June 18-22.
(With IANS inputs)