Selectors need to show faith in Kuldeep in the Test format: Erapalli Prasanna

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav is the man of the moment.  Australian captain Steve Smith had said that Kuldeep would be the one to watch out for, before that start of the ODI series. And the Indian Chinaman lived up to the stature. Kuldeep not only lifted India to a win in the 2nd ODI, but also bagged a hat-trick in the process.

Legendary Indian spinner Erapalli Prasanna  spoke to International Business Times, India, and expressed his views on India’s promising prospect. Prasanna congratulated the spinner and backed him to succeed in Test match cricket with his ‘mystery’.

“It is a great achievement for the youngster. To get a hat-trick at any level of cricket is extremely difficult one,” he said. He continued, “For this youngster to do it in only his ninth ODI is creditable. I am sure with this sort of mystery around him it will take him quite a long way. One big factor is he has to keep his head on his shoulders. That is the only advice I can give him.”

Kuldeep can succeed slowly: Prasanna

“In Tests, he can succeed slowly. He can succeed but they (selectors and team management) have to have faith in him. He has to bowl longer spells in five-day cricket,” Prasanna said.

“Wrist spinner has a natural advantage over a finger spinner. He can get – 99.99 per cent, a bit of turn on a good wicket too,Once he gets a bit of turn there is doubt in a batsman’s mind as to whether the ball will turn or come through. An advantage for wrist spinners is that sometimes without their knowledge the ball will skid through when batsman expects a legbreak or a googly. That is where they gets a leg before the wicket (LBW) decision.” Prasanna explained.

“In case of a finger spinner, unless he is an extraordinary spinner, it will be little difficult to get turn (on good pitches). Only an off-break bowler gets a bit of turn because there is a bit of wrist involved,” he concluded.