MSK Prasad, Sp
MSK Prasad. Photo Credit: Getty Images

MSK Prasad, the former Indian wicket-keeper batsman recently completed his tenure as the chairman of selectors. Prasad had an eventual stint as the chairman of the selection committee where a plethora of his teams’ decisions came under the scanner.

One of them was the selection of Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar over Ambati Rayudu for the 2019 World Cup in England. The decision had come under the scanner because Rayudu was seen as the solution to India’s No.4.conundrum but the loss of form leading into the World Cup coupled by the emergence of Vijay Shankar, whom Prasad had hailed as a ‘3-D’ player.

“We did give a few more chances to Rayudu but Vijay Shankar gives three dimensions. He can bat if the conditions are overcast, he can bowl, plus he is a fielder. We are looking at Vijay Shankar as a No. 4.” MSK Prasad had said.

MSK Prasad Reacts To Gautam Gambhir's Comments Over His Selection Of Vijay Shankar Over Ambati Rayudu
Gautam Gambhir (Credits: Twitter)

Former Indian World Cup-winning opener-turned politician Gautam Gambhir has once again opened up on that decision, stating that some of the decisions taken by the MSK Prasad-led committee were ‘absolutely shocking’.

Some of the decisions were absolutely shocking. Probably not picking Ambati Rayudu in the World Cup (squad). They couldn’t find the number four. One position they had to identify and couldn’t do it. Rayudu, look what happened to him in the WC. You picked him for two years..two years you made him bat at number four and just before WC you needed a 3D (player). Is that a kind of statement you wanna see from a chairman of selectors…we needed a 3Dcricketer.,” Gautam Gambhir said on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’

Also Read: Gautam Gambhir Tears Apart Shahid Afridi After The Latters Hateful Comments Against India And PM Modi

MSK Prasad clarifies his decision of selecting Vijay Shankar over Ambati Rayudu after Gautam Gambhir’s comments

MSK Prasad Reacts To Gautam Gambhir's Comments Over His Selection Of Vijay Shankar Over Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu (Photo Credit: Getty Images.)

Reacting to Gambhir’s comments, MSK Prasad said the main reason behind the selection committee choosing Vijay Shankar over Ambati Rayudu purely because of the former’s ability to serve as the sixth bowling option, considering none of the top-order batsmen could bowl.

“Let me clarify. At the top..we didn’t have…batsman Rohit (Sharma), Shikhar (Dhawan), Virat (Kohli)….there was nobody who could bowl. Someone like Vijay Shankar, who bats at the top of the order…..in English conditions he might be helpful,” Prasad said in his rebuttal.

Shankar scored 58 runs besides taking two wickets in three games before being ruled out due to a toe injury. Rayudu wasn’t even called in as Shankar’s replacement, post which the former Indian cricketer announced his retirement from competitive cricket. He, however, came out of retirement and was involved in the domestic season.

As for Prasad, the former selector recently listed the three biggest regrets of his tenure, and Rayudu’s axing from the World Cup squad was one of them.

Also Read: MSK Prasad Lists Three Biggest Regrets Of His Tenure As Chairman Of Selectors