New Delhi: As India gears up for the five-match Test series against England starting June 20, former chief selector MSK Prasad has weighed in on what the ideal squad should look like, advocating for the inclusion of rising talents Arshdeep Singh, Sai Sudharsan, and Kuldeep Yadav. Prasad, who served as India’s chief selector from 2016 to 2020, emphasized that these three players bring a unique blend of form, skill, and suitability for English conditions. He also mentioned that if selectors opt for a 15-member squad, Prasidh Krishna should get the nod over Akash Deep based on current form.
On the topic of Rohit Sharma’s inclusion, Prasad diplomatically deferred to the current selection panel, led by Ajit Agarkar, but said that if Rohit is included, he should open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Sudharsan being groomed as a backup opener. Former coach Ravi Shastri had also endorsed Sudharsan earlier, citing his strong IPL performance and county cricket experience as key credentials. Prasad expects Shubman Gill to bat at No. 3, followed by Virat Kohli at No. 4, who will once again have to face his familiar challenge against deliveries outside off-stump in English conditions.
Rishabh Pant is Prasad’s preferred wicketkeeper-batter, while KL Rahul, due to his adaptability across formats, should be a middle-order option. He ruled out Shreyas Iyer, citing his form being limited to white-ball formats. For the spin department, Prasad strongly backed Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav, calling Kuldeep a genuine match-winner even in seam-friendly conditions, and excluding Axar Patel from his squad.
Despite concerns over Nitish Reddy’s fitness, Prasad believes he should be part of the squad based on his recent performances, especially given that his bowling would be more effective in England than it was in Australia. Turning to the fast bowling unit, Prasad said the core trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj pick themselves, but stressed that left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh could be the X-factor. Praising Arshdeep’s ability to swing the ball both ways at 135+ km/h and his growing maturity, Prasad also pointed to his county experience as a key advantage.
With England undergoing a transition following the retirement of Stuart Broad and the upcoming exit of James Anderson, Prasad believes India has a strong opportunity to win their first Test series in England since 2007.
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