Shastri has played a huge role in this New India team: MSK
Kohli's men decided to play aggressive cricket after they lost to Sri Lanka in Galle in 2015, says former national chief selector
Hyderabad: As India marched into the World Test Championship final to keep the date with New Zealand in Southampton (England), it did not come as a surprise to MSK Prasad, the former chairman of the selectors. “It was on the cards as we were on top of the ICC rankings in the last four years,’’ said Prasad while talking to Telangana Today.
According to Prasad, the transition took place after India lost to Sri Lanka in Galle in 2015. “That is when coach Ravi Shastri had a brainstorming session with the team. It was here they decided they would play an aggressive brand of cricket henceforth. We started taking seriously the importance of having solid bench strength in all departments of the game in all formats. The best way to strengthen the bench was to have more `A’ tours. During the process we played 13 `A’ series and won most of them. Winning became a habit for these boys from these tours. Thereafter Shastri played a huge role in this New India team.’’
The former Test stumper said the reasons for positive results was because skipper Virat Kohli and his boys play fearless and aggressive cricket. “There may be a few setbacks here and there but they have learnt to bounce back strongly as seen in the Australian tours or in the series against England where they won 3-1 after losing the first Test in Chennai. The team has raised the bar and ready to take up the challenges with optimism. The India A tours concept, which we worked with Rahul Dravid, has given a good supply line to Team India.
“These young cricketers are a representation of New India. It was a four-year planning that has given good results for India. And today, if we find a player injured, we get the replacements who are ready for the tough challenges. (GH) Vihari, Mayank (Agarwal), Shubman (Gill), Shardul Thakur, Washington Sunder, Mohd Siraj to name a few are examples of how these players rise to the occasion when given a chance. It is a team work _selectors, Team management and India A management that has helped India in a big way in all formats of the game.’’
Prasad feels Ravi Shastri is the biggest factor in the change of mindset of the players. “He has played the role of a mentor to perfection. He works more on the mental aspect and has been well assisted by Bharat Arun, R Sridhar, Sanjay Bangar (initially) and Vikram Rathour. He jells with young players and infuses confidence. Kohli being a Kohli always believes in aggressive cricket and leads by example, whether in leadership, batting or fielding.’’
Prasad added that Ravichandran Ashwin is a legend. ”He thinks ahead of his time. He learned and mastered his craft. The Indian attack is the best in the world. We have got a battery of pace and spin bowlers. Just look at the line-up of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohd Siraj, Navdeep Saini. This Siraj is a fantastic red-ball bowler. In spin, we have Ashwin, (Ravinder) Jadeja, Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and now Washington. The bowlers have done wonders for India. Maybe, a few times, the batting did not rise to the occasion. Having said, we have seen different batsmanship in recent Australian series from the young brigade.’’
Prasad said by making Rohit Sharma to open in the Test was a masterstroke. “He has become a game changer after we pitted him in the series against South Africa. We thought after getting five centuries in the World Cup we never wanted him to be away from Test cricket. Unfortunately, he was not getting the slot in the middle order and the gamble of opening has paid rich returns. Imagine a player of KL Rahul’s class is sitting on the bench. That is the bench strength of the team where the players are hungry to perform.
“Our selection committee supported (Rishabh) Pant because we believed he was an extraordinary talent. It was a matter of time that he could improve his keeping and in this series, by working hard and losing weight, he was a revelation, both with the bat and behind the stumps. The supporting staff needs to be complimented for having faith in Pant.”
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