CHENNAI: Virat Kohli is leading from the front. The team was on a roll against England. A part of the long home Test season still to play, things augur well for India. Selectors are happy with the way different parts are combining.
“It was a good effort from the boys. It was team work that helped them beat England convincingly in all formats. I’m sure they will carry the momentum when they play against Bangladesh,” said chairman of selectors MSK Prasad on Thursday. He is here for the South Zone leg of the national T20 championship.
England failed to play spin effectively and were outsmarted by R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the Test series. But Bangladesh have players who can play spin better and they also have spinners who are used to bowling in similar conditions. “The balance is good, we have a strong team. I’m confident our team will do well against Bangladesh (one-off Test),” Prasad said in a chat with Express.
The selectors have strongly hinted that domestic performance matters by picking Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund in the Test squad after a six year gap. The turnaround happened in last year’s TNPL and his foot work, shot selection and new found aggro have paid dividends since. The left-hander tallied nearly 900 runs in Ranji Trophy.
“This committee is very clean and watching those who have the hunger to play for the country, irrespective of whether they have been picked or not. If you look at Yuvraj Singh or Parthiv Patel, they are showing this hunger in domestic cricket. When somebody has class, is working hard and can deliver, why should he be ignored,” said Prasad on picking Abhinav.
Most teams have different teams for different formats these days. India too have tried out specialists. Yuzvendra Chahal was the surprise pack in Wednesday’s third T20 against England, where he picked up six wickets. But Prasad said there is no set formula for selecting teams.
“For any team to be is successful, the core should be the same with maybe a few changes here and there according to the formats. Nowhere would you see two totally different teams for two formats. There can be a few changes, based on how players adapt to conditions,” explained Prasad.
ashok.v@newindianexpress.com