Ravi Ashwin should've played in ICC WTC final instead of Jadeja or Shardul: MSK Prasad | EXCLUSIVE

Former India selector MSK Prasad criticised India's decision to bench Ravi Ashwin in the ICC WTC final.

Former Indian chief selector MSK Prasad has slammed the Indian team’s preparation for the recently concluded World Test Championship Final against Australia at The Oval. India suffered a crushing defeat of 209 runs in the WTC Final and lost their second consecutive Test Championship final in two years.

Talking exclusively to Khel Now's Kartik Mehindru, Former Indian wicket-keeper MSK Prasad criticised Team India’s preparation and said that it was difficult for the players to acclimatise to the conditions and go through a transition from white-ball to red-ball cricket. India entered the World Test Championship Final just a week after the IPL 2023 Final in Ahmedabad. He also defended captain Rohit Sharma’s decision of bowling first at The Oval.

MSK Prasad suggests for proper scheduling

Talking about India’s World Test Championship loss, Prasad said, “I think there was some problem in scheduling, We should have been aware of the ICC event from the beginning and planned accordingly. We went to a mega event like the WTC Final after playing a white-ball format for almost two months. That's what created issues with players acclimatising to conditions”.

Suggesting proper scheduling, MSK Prasad added, “Whenever there’s an ICC event next, there should be proper scheduling for that and also play one or two side games before the big game to change the mindset and transition through different formats. This didn’t happen and we have to suffer a huge loss”.

MSK Prasad defends Rohit Sharma's decision at the toss

Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bowl against Australia in the ICC WTC final after looking at the overcast and heavy weather conditions at The Oval. MSK Prasad defended Rohit Sharma’s decision and said we shouldn’t look at the situation in hindsight.

The former chief selector said, “We played with 4 fast bowlers and the conditions were overcast and we picked up 2 early wickets, a few more would have changed the story. But the captain and others there are at the field and they understand better from those talking from outside. Whatever was going to happen, it happened. What if someone got a five-wicket haul? We started well but we could not carry on with the momentum. Rohit made a decision but it didn’t work out well”.

MSK Prasad says, 'Ashwin's experience was needed'.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s exclusion became a huge talking point in the game and India did pay a price for not playing another spinner in the WTC Final after the first day. MSK Prasad said, "I feel that maybe Ashwin's experience could have been come useful for the team. He should have played in place of either Ravindra Jadeja or Shardul Thakur".

He further added, “Yes, the conditions were overcast on the first day but the rest of the four days it was bright and sunny. We know that this was the only wicket in England that could have turned a bit. Ravi Ashwin knew these conditions better as he played a lot of cricket in England”. India played with four pacers in the final, but after the opening day, it was a bright sunny and dry at the Oval, with the conditions being helpful for the spinners.