SA vs IND 2018: Erapalli Prasanna rates the current Indian bowling attack as the best in the last 60-70 years

Erapalli Prasanna favoured R Ashwin over Ravindra Jadeja for South Africa Tests.

Erapalli Prasanna –legendary spin wizard of India, is highly impressed with current Indian pace attack, rating it as the best attack in the last 60-70 years, despite having part of one of the finest spin attack ever in the history of the game of cricket. He also has a piece of advice for current Indian skipper, Virat Kohli, to use five bowlers strategy in South Africa.  

Speaking to Press Trust of India, Erapalli Prasanna said on Wednesday, “India have one of the best attacks in the world. In fact, I don't think the Indian teams of the past could boast of an attack like the current one. It is probably the best I have seen in the last 60-70 years.”

With the series opener of the three-match Test series set to go undergo tomorrow in Cape Town, the tourists likely to go with three pacers and a spinner, but Prasanna believes that India must go with five bowlers to win the game there. In his opinion, Prasanna was forthright, “I have always believed five bowlers are must if you want to win the game. The same logic which applies while picking an extra batsman, should apply on the bowlers. Even if you play an extra batsman, only one or two would go on to make big scores. There is a possibility if the top five fail, the sixth batsmen will fail as well.”

The former off-spinner further added, “Similarly, if you do pick five bowlers, more often than not you see one or two having an off day. And for a bowling line-up to be effective you need at least three bowlers to fire all the time. So picking a fifth bowler helps in this case.”

He favoured R Ashwin over Ravindra Jadeja, as he was not as effective as he used to be during the Sri Lanka series, according to Prasanna. The 77-year-old also refused to compare the two teams.

Prasanna concluded by saying, “It is a well balance side and players have a positive mindset. What I like most about this team is that they don't fear any side. If the batters can score 350 runs consistently in the first innings, then half the battle is won.”