Cheteshwar Pujara's late inclusion in India's BGT squad on cards? Ex-Chief selector makes huge claim

Former India chief selector MSK Prasad feels that Cheteshwar Pujara should have been in India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Prasad feels that Pujara has the experience of playing in Australian conditions before which can be helpful for Team India.

Prasad also shared his views on India's recent performances against spin bowling and revealed the reason for the decline in India's ability to play spin. Indian batters have struggled against spin bowling lately which also led to their home series defeat to New Zealand recently.

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MSK Prasad wants Cheteshwar Pujara in India's squad

While speaking on RevSportz, MSK Prasad expressed that Cheteshwar Pujara should have been in India's squad for the Australia tour. Prasad feels that players like Cheteshwar Pujara can hold one end up which will be helpful in Australian conditions.

"Hundred per cent (Cheteshwar) Pujara should have been in this team, especially given the kind of form some of our players are exhibiting. Statistically, you might have said that we would have won so many matches but we should have also looked at the form. We should have looked at those players who can stick on and hold the fort at one end," Prasad said.

Cheteshwar Pujara last played a Test match in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final against Australia at the Oval. After that game, he was dropped from the team. India tried various options at No. 3 and finally settled for Shubman Gill.

🚨 #MSKPrasad Exclusive🚨

"Hundred per cent Pujara should have been in the team" - MSK Prasad backs @cheteshwar1.

The former chief selector for BCCI explains why Indians aren't playing spin well and how it is being noticed in domestic cricket as well!

Speaks about India's… pic.twitter.com/jZ11FSGe5n

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) October 28, 2024

Cheteshwar Pujara is in the right stage of his career - MSK Prasad

The former India cricketer then spoke about Cheteshwar Pujara's excellent double hundred recently in the Ranji Trophy. He reckons that Pujara can put pressure on the opposition team and he will be a headache for the Australians. He reminded everyone of Cheteshwar Pujara's great contributions to India's two Test series wins in Australia.

"Hats off to this great man. The other day, he got 243 in a game. He is 35-36 but he is in the right stage of his career. Whenever a guy like Pujara stands on the pitch, there is pressure on the opposition. Australians feel very happy looking at Pujara going back to the pavilion," Prasad explained.

"We should not forget the contributions of Pujara in both the series wins. We won those series because of Pujara. Once a guy like Pujara is at the crease, there is a lot of confidence in the players inside the dressing room," he added.

"It's a myth that we are playing spin very well" - MSK Prasad

MSK Prasad also revealed why the Indian batters are not good at playing spin anymore. He feels that the players have lost the art of playing spin and swing bowling and just want to hit the ball through the line rather than play late.

Prasad further gave examples of great Indian players who switched formats and changed their way of batting. However, the players seem to play with the same flow in all the formats now. He declared that India does not play spin well anymore.

"People have lost that art of playing spin, the art of playing swing bowling. They just want to play with hard hands. They just want to hit through the line. The legendary players like Sachin (Tendulkar), Sourav (Ganguly) played all formats but they switched the formats which is really missing right now and that is clearly evident with the results we are seeing right now," Prasad claimed.

"It's a myth that we are playing spin very well and we are a spin-friendly country and we bat well against spin when we used to bat hours to get those 250 runs on the board. But that's not happening. We are no more a spin friendly country," he added.

During the second Test between India and New Zealand, left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner destroyed India's batting line-up with 13 wickets in the match. New Zealand defeated India by 113 runs and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.