Quality wicketkeeping helped KS Bharat seal his berth in Indian team: MSK Prasad

After waiting on the wings for a reasonable amount of time, Andhra player KS Bharat finally got a chance to make his debut for the national team in the first Test against Australia at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. The former BCCI chief selector and the first player from Andhra to play for India, MSK Prasad lauded the cricketer and mentioned that this is not just a great day for Bharat but for the state as well.

He also stated that he first spotted Bharat when he was 11 and he knew that the cricketer has tremendous quality. He also mentioned that it is his wicketkeeping skills helped him get a chance to feature in the national team.

“Yes, this is a great day not only for Bharat but also for Andhra cricket. These are the things that make everyone connected with the game at the State-level proud and inspire them to invest more in developing the sport with the hope of producing more cricketers,” Prasad told The Hindu. “From the day we saw Bharat as an 11-year-old kid, we knew he would be a quality wicketkeeper. And, I believe that it is this department that helped him seal a berth in the Indian team.”

A decent performance will only further his chances of making the wicketkeeper’s slot his own: Prasad

As per reports, Rishabh Pant, who met with a car accident in December 2022, is likely to be out of action for the larger part of 2023. Thus, his position is up for grabs and as per Prasad, if Bharat plays well, he can make the slot his own for further matches. The former cricketer also added that Bharat was part of the system and he, along with Rahul Dravid and Ravi Shastri, ensured that there was a seamless transition for him in the national setup.

“Obviously, to play for your country you have to wait for the big opportunity. I am glad that he got it against a very good opposition and a decent performance will only further his chances of making the wicketkeeper’s slot his own," Prasad said.

“Bharat is a product of the system that was set in process in the last five years. Rahul (Dravid) and I, and Ravi (Shastri — then head coach) ensured there was a seamless transition to the senior grade by having regular meetings with the support staff and the players,” he added.

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