Former chief selector MSK Prasad hopes that India have learnt their lessons from their debacle in the World Test Championship (WTC) final two years ago and will not be going in with a pre-determined XI.
India’s ploy to play two spinners — Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja — backfired in the 2021 WTC final against New Zealand.
Spin could play a role in the India-Australia final, which will be played at The Oval from June 7, but Prasad wants the team management to be cautious.
“We went with two spinners and three fast bowlers... but subsequently there was rain, we should have changed our plans, (but) somehow we stuck to the same playing eleven. But that is in the past.
“It all depends on conditions at The Oval. We don’t know how they will be over five days, so we should not pre-fix our mind... understand the conditions and back your instincts,” the former India wicketkeeper said.
He thinks India should play KS Bharat, not Ishan Kishan, as the wicketkeeper, while also ruing the absence of Rishabh Pant.
“It is a pretty straightforward call to pick Bharat. It is really tough to fill the shoes of Rishabh, especially in an away series. Bharat has been tried and tested and has played India A in England, so they might end up going with him,” he said.
Written with inputs from PTI
