Amit Mishra should have played in New Zealand: Karsan Ghavri

Amit Mishra(L) with Virat Kohli

Former Indian pacer Karsan Ghavri said that the leg-spinner Amit Mishra should have been given a chance to play in the just concluded India’s tour of New Zealand.

“I think other spinners should be given a chance. Unfortunately on such fast wickets (like in New Zealand), the spinners are not getting a chance to show their talent. I personally feel Amit Mishra should have been given a chance. Even (Ravichandran) Ashwin hasn’t done really well in New Zealand (in ODIs),” Ghavri said.

“It is a matter of how they plan it out. Strategically, they are going somewhere wrong,” he added.

The 62-year-old feels that the Indian fast bowlers should have pitched the ball up rather than bowling it short. “It all depends on which area to bowl in. How the New Zealanders are bowling? They pitch it up because if you dig it in, if you try to bowl short, it is not going to really help. The line and length and the accuracy is very much required, which unfortunately our bowlers are missing.”

Ghavri cited the slowness of the decks used in domestic matches as the reason for the abject failure, which, according to him, reduces the ability of a batsman to play on fast and bouncy wickets.

“If the pitches are not made fast at the under 16, 19 and Ranji levels, we will be a little exposed to bouncy and fast wickets when we go abroad and play series against Australia, West Indies, England and South Africa,” he said.

The pace bowler, who has represented India in 39 Tests, said that the young Indian batsman need to perform consistently to fill into the shoes of the retired Indian legends.

“Youngsters are all trying. They are all very classy players. The bottom line is that they have to be consistent. Consistency like the way Virat Kohli has … that kind of consistency is required at the international level.

“Ganguly, Laxman, Sachin, Rahul Dravid – they were very consistent not only in India, but also abroad. They could score runs all over the place. Unless they (young batsmen) are consistent, it is difficult to fill into the shoes of these four names.”