T20 WC 2021: MSK Prasad lists two players who should have been picked in India's squad

Earlier the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection panel announced its 15-member squad for the T20 WC 2021 with quite a few surprise picks and notable omissions. No one saw Axar Patel’s inclusion in the team owing to the less amount of T20I cricket that he played in the past two years or so. Also, the omission of Shikhar Dhawan and Yuzvendra Chahal for the showpiece event was surprising given the recent good form the duo have been in.

And the biggest debate of the selection was the inclusion of Ravi Ashwin in the team, who has not played a T20I game since 2017. The reason given for the off-spinners inclusion was his recent good performances in IPL and in domestic T20 matches. And the reason given for Chahal’s omission was he cannot fast leg-spin as Rahul Chahar, who was picked in the 15-member squad for the T20 WC.

Former BCCI chief selector MSK Prasad has shed light on the team selected for the global event and said that Dhawan should have been in the team due to his stupendous record in the ICC events. “You can definitely rate them 8-9 out of 10. They’ve tried to cover all bases and they have gone in predominantly with a frame of mind that it will be more of spin-friendly wickets. That’s the reason we have 4-5 spinners in the squad. Selectors will see from every angle. They will definitely not go in one direction,” Prasad told Sports Tak.

Prasad further opined of late Dhawan’s IPL form is also good for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The southpaw has so far scored 430 runs in 10 IPL games this season and last year he also scored two consecutive centuries for the Capitals.

“Personally, I felt that maybe since this is a major event, someone like Shikhar Dhawan could have really been brought. Considering the fact that he has always done well in ICC tournaments. And he got back-to-back centuries in the IPL so he is in perfect form. I think he could have been more useful for the side,” he added.

Krunal Pandya should have been there in the T20 WC squad: MSK Prasad

Prasad also felt all-rounder Krunal Pandya should have been in the team for India in the T20 World Cup. The former BCCI chief selector felt he has been a consistent performer for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

“Similarly, Krunal Pandya too. We had groomed him for the last 3-4 years in the T20 format. He’s been doing well for the Mumbai Indians so these are the two names. I felt that these are the two guys who could have fitted in,” Prasad added.