WTC Final: Ex-chief selector MSK Prasad wants India to not repeat mistake which they committed vs NZ in 2021

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WTC Final: Former India chief selector MSK Prasad has warned India about not repeating the mistake they committed during the final of World Test Championship (WTC) against New Zealand in 2021.

Prasad said that India should avoid selecting "pre-determined" playing eleven and make their decision depending on the conditions just ahead of the match. Notably, India had gone into the WTC 2021 final in Southampton with two spinners, however, absence of a fourth seamer was felt due to the overcast conditions.

"We went with two spinners and three fast bowlers in mind but subsequently there was rain, we should have changed our plans, somehow we stuck to the same playing eleven. But that is in the past.

"It all depends on conditions at The Oval. This is the actual story of the movie, the pitch and conditions. We don't know how they will be over five days, so we should not pre fix our mind and understand the conditions and back your instincts," the former India wicket-keeper told PTI.

WTC Final: 'Pretty straightforward call to pick Bharat'

Further Prasad said replacing injured Rishabh Pant in the eleven was a tough task. He has backed KS Bharat to play ahead of Ishan Kishan in the WTC 2023 final. He reckoned that in a crucial Test match Bharat is ahead of Kishan in terms of wicket-keeping skills.

"It is a pretty straightforward call to pick Bharat (over Ishan Kishan). It is really tough to fill the shoes of Rishabh especially in an away series. In the history of entire India cricket, no other wicketkeeper batter has hundreds in England, South Africa and Australia, so it's very difficult to replace him.

"You need to have a wicket-keeper who is fit and fine for 100 overs. This is a Test match and we need to think from that aspect. But if you are thinking you can have Ishan Kishan, Bharat has been tried and tested and has played India A in England, so they might end up going with him," Prasad added.

The WTC final between India and Australia will kick off from June 7 at The Lord's. The Indian team has arrived in London and sweating out hard on the field for the summit clash.