Chief selector MSK Prasad: Selectors now involved in picking playing XI

“The selectors now are present at the meeting to name the eleven and their inputs are sought by the team-management. We are a part of the process for selecting the playing XI,” Prasad told The Hindu.

“One selector watches a Test match at home [the others, he said, were following domestic matches] while two travel with the team on tours,” he added.

The former wicketkeeper said the current selectors share an excellent relationship with both the Test and limited-overs captains.

 “The selectors have an excellent rapport with the captains for the different formats and coach Anil Kumble. We are all one team working together for the betterment of Indian cricket,” the former Andhra cricketer said.

Prasad spoke of the advantages of having players prove their fitness in domestic cricket on their return from injury before being picked again for India.

 “It has really worked, prevents injury-returned players from breaking down in matches. I was there in Vizianagaram to watch KL Rahul and saw for myself how well he had recovered from a hamstring strain. He batted beautifully and fielded well,” Prasad said.

 “Sometimes, first class or domestic cricket is not taking place when we want to assess the fitness of a cricketer. Then, we even watch him in smaller games. In fact, two National selectors travelled to see paceman Mohammed Shami in action in a local league game. We want to be sure about a player’s fitness before selecting him again.

 “When Rahul was injured we had Gautam Gambhir. We also have other openers such as Shikhar Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund who is batting fantastically this season. Similarly we want to create depth in all departments so that injuries do not affect the team.”

On India’s packed home Test season (13 matches in all), he said: “I believe every home season must be like this. ODIs and Twenty20 cricket have more colour but Test cricket is the real cricket.”