MSK Prasad Suggests To Pick Different Players For Home And Away Conditions
Former Indian chief selector MSK Prasad has suggested the Indian team try and adopt a strategy where they pick different players for home and away tours. He also said that Ajinkya Rahane is good overseas but the opposite at home.
Although the constant chopping and changing of squads is the thing that is condemned under Virat Kohli‘s captaincy, Prasad implied that the team may have no choice considering how different players perform in familiar conditions and tough conditions abroad.
“At the end of the day, it should be a mix of juniors and seniors. Even in 2013, he (Rahane) did well. Usually, Rahane performs well in overseas conditions but his record at home hasn’t been great. Taking these things into consideration, the selectors can look into players for home conditions and players for away conditions.”
“Usually, Rahane is one guy who does really well in away conditions. Selectors are a bit puzzled because of his form. Whether they are going to look forward or back his experience is going to be their judgment,” Prasad said in a conversation with India Today.
“You need to have a perfect blend of youth and experience” – MSK Prasad
MSK Prasad also stated that the management cannot drop seniors at every whim but instead, try and find the right combination of experience and youth when they go on away tours. With the amount of depth India has at the moment, it is certainly plausible for the team.
“First of all, it is good to have a healthy headache for the selectors. And secondly, you need to have a system in place. How many opportunities would you be giving to a senior cricketer, when do you want to induct a youngster? How many youngsters are on a tour? These are the things you should take into consideration, there should be a good balance.”
“You just can’t simply remove all the seniors, at the same time, you can’t carry on with all youngsters, especially when you are going away. At home, you can try things but when you go away experience counts a lot. That’s why they need to have a perfect blend of youth and experience,” Prasad added.
The Indian team will be going to South Africa next for a 3-match Test series followed by a 3-match ODI series.
Also, Read – Developing Backup Players Is Key – Dilip Vengsarkar Feels The BCCI Needs To Groom Captains For The Future
