Former Indian chief selector MSK Prasad on Monday (December 21) said it is “really hard to digest” that Team India bowled out for their lowest ever Test total in Adelaide – the same team that created history on the last tour by winning Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Recently, India suffered a humiliating defeat of 8 wickets in the first Test of the ongoing four-Test series after registering their lowest Test score – 36 in the second innings of the pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval.
Prasad told ANI on Monday: “It is really hard to digest that we got all out for 36 but having said that our team is playing away series on different conditions.”
He continued, “The same team had taken the lead in the first innings. We got a few more runs but a 150 or 170 runs lead would have really shifted the match in our favor. I do understand that it’s hard to digest the low score we put up but I personally feel that this is the time when we need to back our team. Because this is the same team which has won us series in 2018-19 after the gap of 79 years.”
The former chairman of the selector has also reacted to Prithvi Shaw’s horrible form on the tour, suggesting the young right-hander to go back and play domestic cricket and rectify his technical flaws and make a strong comeback to the Indian team.
He doesn’t think Pant will get a chance to play in the remaining three Test of the Broder-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Prasad further explained, “Unfortunately, what is happening is that his form also did not help. He is having a few technical issues which have to be sorted out when he goes back to domestic cricket but having said that every cricketer in the early stage of his career goes through these things.
So, I would really not see that this guy will be making, in fact, the other way around if I look at it once he goes back to domestic cricket once he sorts it out I think he will come back strong.
Right now, I think it's a little bit harsh on him to blame whatever the technical faults he is facing but that's how the game is and he has to go back home and come back strong again. I doubt he will be getting the opportunity in remaining matches.”
However, the former selector has backed Rishabh Pant to take over gloves from the experienced Wriddhiman Saha in the ongoing Test series against Australia.
Prasad further explained his point, “I want to see Rishabh Pant in place of Wriddhiman Saha because the former has been successful in the previous tour and he is the only wicketkeeper-batsman in the history of Indian cricket who has scored a century both against Australia and England at their home conditions.”
He signed off, “So, off-late because of his fitness and his form he is not been considered in ODIs and T20Is. But it is a clear understanding that Pant will stand a chance ahead of Saha when we play overseas and Saha stands ahead when we play at home and sub-continent condition.”
Noteworthy, India will next face Australia in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, beginning December 26, 2020.
(With ANI Inputs)
