MSK Prasad: Premature to talk about Dhoni and Yuvraj for 2019 World Cup
Chief selector MSK Prasad has said it is premature to talk about Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni for the 2019 50-over World Cup, and also declared that Wriddhiman Saha is currently India’s best wicketkeeper in the longest format with Parthiv Patel establishing himself as the number two.
Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni struck centuries in the second One-day International against England in Cuttack, and their 200-plus stand was instrumental in India sealing the series with a game to spare.
It is premature to talk about Dhoni and Yuvi being part of the 2019 WC. We can't talk about something that is 800 or more days away from now,” Prasad as quoted as saying by PTI news agency.
“As of
Yuvraj was recalled to the ODI squad after a gap of three years, and his last international appearance was in the World Twenty20 in India last year. The southpaw was picked based on his impressive domestic run that included a Ranji double hundred.
 “All said and done we were a bit worried about the middle-order during the New Zealand ODI series. Now I am more confident, the way Kedar played and Yuvraj did. With the likes of (Ajinkya) Rahane, Manish (Pandey) and (Ambati) Rayudu in the reserves shows the kind of bench strength we have. I am absolutely confident now,” Prasad said.
“Yuvraj was definitely not a gamble. The five selectors earlier, and three now, had seen him do exceptionally well in the domestic circuit. Someone who can get a 260 and
Parthiv's glovework has definitely improved. But Saha has got better hands and that's where he scores little more points than Parthiv. With today's batting (Irani Trophy), Saha showed why he is the number one keeper-batsman in the country. When he came out to bat yesterday the team was struggling at 63-4, and to take the game away from Gujarat, is phenomenal. So it's a healthy competition between the two.
“There are no two ways about ability. The day he is fit, his abilities are there. Look how he played under pressure during the second ODI. The most important
Prasad also lauded Saha, who scored a double hundred in the Irani Trophy.
“We had made it clear that someone who is coming back from injury, had to play in a domestic game and this was the best opportunity. Right now Saha and Parthiv are the best No 1 and 2 that we have. It was only to test fitness that we had Saha play here.
“Personally, I can say that Wriddiman Saha was out of the team because of injury and not because he was out of form. He was
“I am happy how Parthiv has responded to the call-up. He is a fighter to the core. He single-handedly brought Gujarat from nowhere to being the Ranji champions. He is in our scheme of things. There is just a minor difference between the two. When it comes to Test cricket, it is always the man who keeps better who gets the nod.