Former Indian chief selector MSK Prasad defended Team India’s decision to prepare rank-tuners for home Test matches despite being home to spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. He feels India is no longer a spin-friendly country and will soon have no quality spinners available.

He asserted that it is a myth that India can master the spin-friendly conditions. “Every country prepares pitches for their bowlers. When you go to Australia, there is bounce and pace on offer. New Zealand believes in tracks that offer swing, and even England has that kind of thought process.

“However, we don’t play spin well anymore. We are not a spin-friendly country. Gone are those days when our batters used to spend hours in the middle to score  250-300 runs. Things have changed, and we are no longer a spin-friendly country,” he told Boria Majumdar.

He also mentioned that  Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are the last quality spinners of India.

“Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are the last generation of quality spinners as the selectors are looking for  mystery bowlers or the bowlers who have several variations. I think the quality of spin is declining,” he added.

The former Indian chief selector highlighted the change in mindset of the spinners in domestic cricket.

“Spinners don’t want to beat batters in the flight and they only look to bowl flat in domestic cricket. The bowlers are more concerned about their economy rate.”