'India are short of a pacer in T20 World Cup squad' - Ex-selector MSK Prasad

Former India chief selector MSK Prasad feels India are short of a fast bowler in their T20 World Cup squad. Prasad said that India will be playing their matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where the surface supports fast bowling. In the current squad, India have picked just three pacers - Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. 

“It is a decent squad but I feel that they are one fast bowler short actually because we are playing majority of the matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so may be one more fast bowler could have been handy,” MyKhel quoted Prasad

“Had we played more matches in Sharjah, this was okay, but one fast bowler could have (been there) and more important with Hardik not bowling, I think it is a little cause of concern,” explained the 46-year-old.

Prasad was also concerned about Hardik Pandya not bowling in the IPL. Prasad said if Pandya does not bowl in the T20 World Cup as well, it will disrupt the balance of the side. While selecting Pandya, selector Sunil Joshi had said that Pandya has been selected as an all-rounder and will bowl his full quota of overs. 

“I don’t know what exactly is the thought process because selectors must be knowing it, or the Board must be knowing it, but Hardik, if he doesn’t bowl then there will be little, I mean, the balance of the side will get a little affected,” said Prasad

Prasad, who played 6 Tests and 17 ODIs for India, also backed Virat Kohli's decision to step down as India T20 skipper. Along with India T20 captaincy, Kohli will also give up RCB leadership after the current season of the IPL.

“He has taken strain of captaincy across all formats, which is clearly visible right now on his individual performances. So, I think (it) must be a right decision to take,” said Prasad

India’s squad for T20 World Cup- Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma (VC), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami.

Standby Players– Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar.