Bowlers need to complement batsmen to win series: Prasanna

Kolkata, Feb. 27: Expressing doubts over the ability of an injury-depleted Indian bowling attack to succeed in Pakistan, spin legend E.A.S. Prasanna on Friday said the visitors could win the Test series if the bowling performance could complement the team’s strong batting line-up.

"We definitely have a stronger batting line up than the Pakistanis. But to win you also need to take 20 wickets… and there I have some doubts as most of the bowlers are carrying injuries," the off spinner, who formed a part of the revered Indian spin quartet in the 1960s and 1970s, said.

The Indians are hampered by injuries to their bowlers with three experienced seamers — Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra — yet to submit their fitness certificates to the Cricket Board, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh ruled out with a finger injury and veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble still being a doubtful starter.

"In the fast bowling arena, now India will have to depend a lot on the youngsters Irfan Pathan and Laxmipathy Balaji.

But I think we are worse of in spin, where Anil (Kumble) is still doubtful and the selectors have to find a replacement for Harbhajan," the tweaker, who has now settled in the city, said.

"I don’t know, to what extent the young and inexperienced spinners can fill up the slot made vacant by Harbhajan," said Prasanna, who picked up a rich haul of 189 wickets in 49 Tests at an average of 30.38. (PTI)