"Instead Of Prasidh Krishna Or Shardul Thakur...": Ex-Pakistan Star Slams India's Selection After Loss To South Africa In 1st Test

The Indian cricket team suffered an embarrassing innings and 32-run loss to South Africa in the first Test match in Centurion. The Proteas put an all-round performance to outwit India within three days and took a 1-0 unassailable lead in the two-match series. While all the batters, barring Virat Kohli, flopped in India's second innings, the bowlers too failed to impress in their only chance as South Africa were not needed to bat for a second time in the game. In their only innings, the hosts scored 408 despite Jasprit Bumrah's four-wicket haul.

After India's loss to South Africa, former Pakistan batter Salman Butt said that India should have given a chance to Arshdeep Singh instead of going with Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna.

Mohammed Siraj was decent with the ball in the game as he picked two wickets while Ashwin scalped only one wicket but remained economical (2.20).

Shardul Thakur and Prasidh, however, failed to impress as they claimed one wicket each and conceded runs at an economy of 5.30 and 4.70, respectively.

"Instead of playing Prasidh Krishna or Shardul Thakur, it would have been better if India picked Arshdeep Singh in the squad. He bowls over 135 kph and also swings the ball both ways. He might have been effective in the Test. Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur gave a lot of easy boundary balls. It doesn't seem that the two can challenge batters," said Butt on his YouTube channel.

A day after their embarrassing defeat to hosts South Africa in the first Test, India called up right-arm fast bowler Avesh Khan on Friday in a bid to bolster their pace attack for the second and final Test at Cape Town.

The right-arm fast bowler was named as a replacement for Mohammed Shami, who was ruled out of the two Tests