Chief selector MSK Prasad happy the way India’s youngsters have come up

The Indian cricket selectors have found themselves under pressure ever since India crashed out of the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup 2019. The selection came under scrutiny, especially with the Men in Blue finding a little answer to their No.4 woes. The issue of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s retirement also kept the selectors baffled.

The team, however, came to the selectors’ rescue during the recently played tour of the West Indies in which Virat Kohli’s men won in all the three formats. However, although India won the three series handsomely (3-0 in T20Is, 2-0 in ODIs and Tests), questions still arose over the form of players like KL Rahul. The ace batsman failed to impress with the willow during the series. In the shorter formats, however, youngsters played well and that again gave the selectors a lot of boost.

Chief selector MSK Prasad spoke on various issues in an exclusive interview with India Today recently. He was content with India’s show in the Caribbeans after the abrupt end to their campaign at the World Cup.

‘Shreyas Iyer has come up as a matured batsman’

“In shorter formats, we have seen Shreyas Iyer emerging as a matured batsman who can play to the situations and demands of the team and deliver accordingly. Similarly, we have seen (Navdeep) Saini, Krunal (Pandya), Washington (Sundar) progressing well in shorter formats,” the former India keeper said. Iyer, who played for India after February 2018, hit two back-to-back fifties against the West Indies.

Prasad was also happy the way things turned out for India in the longer format. “In the longer format we have seen solid performances from young (Hanuma) Vihari. He was clearly the stand out performer in this series apart from Bumrah, who was outstanding with the ball. I am also very happy with the form of Ajinkya Rahane because he is very crucial for the success of Indian team in this format.”

While Vihari picked his maiden Test hundred in the two-Test series, Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane came up with a number of crucial innings to help India thump the hosts 2-0 and start the World Test Championship with a bang.

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