India’s spin department does not look healthy: Ghavri

MUMBAI: The return of Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna has bolstered the Indian fast bowling attack and gives it a healthy look but the problems in the spin department are worrisome, according to former India pacer Karsan Ghavri.

Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna have made a successful return from long injury layoffs in the ongoing T20I series against Ireland, which has also earned them a call-up for the Asia Cup to be held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

“It’s good news (for the Indian team) that both Bumrah and Krishna are looking fit and right now, you know, are playing in Ireland. They are in for Asia Cup and hopefully for the World Cup too they should be 100% fit and available. That makes a very formidable pace attack and along with that of course we have Mohammed Siraj and Shami,” Ghavri told IANS in an interview on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Award here on Monday.

Ghavri felt the spin department does not seem as healthy as the fast bowlers.

“So, the fast-bowling attack is quite good we are probably a little bit lacking in the spin department where we have, you know, (some problems). I don’t know whether they are going to consider Ravichandran Ashwin or not. But accept Ravindra Jadeja and maybe Kuldeep Yadav or (Yuzvendra) Chahal, we don’t have much choice as far as the spinners are concerned. But when it comes to fast bowlers, we have quite a few guys available. Since Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna are available, I think that makes for a formidable pace attack,” said the 72-year-old Rajkot-born left-arm pacer who played 39 Tests and 19 ODIs mostly as Kapil Dev’s partner as opener bowler.

Asked what combination would he opt for considering India hosting the World Cup and the pitches are expected to do a bit for the spinners, Ghavri said he would have preferred for BCCI to have announced the squad for the World Cup, to be held in October-November, at least a couple of months ahead of the event.

“Actually, I am quite surprised, I mean most of the countries, you know, they have already announced the teams for the World Cup. We have today announced the squad for the Asia Cup. I think, for the World Cup, they should have announced the team much earlier so that at least the players get mentally prepared for the big event. They would go into the event fitter as they would require a lot of time to prepare themselves physically as well as mentally. It’s a mental game more so you know and we don’t know who’s going to be in the World Cup squad. So everybody is left hanging at the moment,” Ghavri said.

“According to me, they should have really selected the team at least a month or month-and-a-half ago for the World Cup at least. At least, the players would have known who are in the squad and they can prepare themselves,” he added.

Asked what combination would he take into the World Cup — three spinners, two pacers or two spinners, three pacers, Ghavri said two spinners are good enough.

“Well, two spinners are good enough and with two fast bowlers, one fast-bowler-batsman (allrounder),” he add-ed. (IANS)

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