Former national chief selector MSK Prasad has expressed concern over rank-turner pitches and the need to field four spinners in the playing XI after India’s defeat to South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Sunday.

“Do we really require rank turners? We should understand that we have beaten the best sides on sporting wickets. Remember, from 2015 to 2017 [vs SA and Sri Lanka], that was the period when pacers Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammed Shami used to rip through batting line-ups. Even on decent flat wickets. I always feel that when you give a turning track, you are giving the opposition a 50-50 chance,” Prasad told mid-day over the phone from Hyderabad.