After winning the second test at Newlands Capetown and draw levelling the 2 match test series 1-1 , Indian bowlers with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj garnered huge praises for their instrumental role in bundling out the South Africans for low scores in both the innings that orchestrated Indian win.
However from the newer brand of fast bowlers, the lanky tall fast bowler and the next big thing to be talked as Indian future with similarities to great Australian bowler Glenn McGrath in terms of height and style of bowling, Prasidh Krishna failed to impress one and all after granting the test debut in conditions suited for fast bowling in the rainbow nation.
Before the test series began, Prasidh Krishna who just had returned from injury was given a chance to make his debut on the seamer friendly conditions in South Africa in absence of star Indian pacer Mohammad Shami who was suffering from injury. In a 4-day match vs SA ‘A’ , representing IND’A’ prior to the test series Prasidh Krishna post his return from injury impressed the likes of Rahul Dravid and management with impressive figures of five wickets in the first innings including a hattrick which made him debut against the Proteas at Centurion.
However the red ball debut didnt go as planned for this lanky fast bowler as on a seamer friendly track in the first test on a pitch where the likes of Jasprit Bumrah spearheading the Indian bowling line up put up a commendable performance, Prasidh Krishna failed miserably as he considered 93 runs in 20 overs for a solitary wicket in the only innings India bowled which led to the crushing defeat by an innings for the visitors.
However Prasidh Krishna was given another chance in the second test at Newlands but again failed to grab his opportunity when his time came with the ball in both the innings, with his second innings being the worst as he was clobbered by the only centurion of match Aiden Markram . Markram smashed 20 runs in Krishna’s first over in South Africa’s second innings. He clubbed him for two fours and as many sixes to move from 74 to 94 and later went onto score century for his team.
Though Rohit Sharma led Indian side successfully drew level the 2 match series 1-1 after 2010 in the rainbow nation, the failure of Prasidh Krishna who is seen to be the future of Indian fast bowling has irked the likes of former greats who has urged him to work on his bowling skills in order to become the successful Red Ball bowler or India in future.
” He will have to do lots of consultations with senior people if he wishes to play for India”-Sunil Gavaskar
Former Indian legend now turned commentator Sunil Gavaskar has urged Prasidh Krishna to seek guidance from senior players and coaches if he wants to continue representing India in Test cricket.
Krishna made his Test debut in the recently concluded two-match series against South Africa. The lanky pacer managed only two wickets at an average of 65.00 in the two Tests played on seamer-friendly tracks and also conceded an average of 4.64 runs per over.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Gavaskar opined that Krishna needs to make a lot of improvements if he harbors hopes of playing the longest format for India going forward. He elaborated:
“Prasidh Krishna was the weak link in India’s bowling. We sometimes get carried away with speeds of 140-145 kph but we need to see if he has that ability or not. He does not have that much experience. He might improve after playing more matches.”
The former India captain added:
“Prasidh Krishna needs to think about his bowling. He needs to sit with the bowling coach. He should sit with Jasprit Bumrah, who is the leader of the pack, and talk to him. Yes, this series is over but if he has to play for India going forward, he will have to do lots of consultations with senior people.”
Krishna picked up a solitary wicket and conceded 93 runs in 20 overs in South Africa’s only innings on his Test debut. He was retained in the XI for the second Test and was taken to the cleaners in the second innings, conceding 27 runs in his four overs, although he did pick up Kagiso Rabada’s wicket.
“I feel he was bowling at 5-10 kph less than what we have seen in the IPL”-Sunil Gavaskar hints at dropped bowling speeds of Prasidh Krishna.
Sunil Gavaskar highlighted that Prasidh Krishna was down on pace and delivered balls in Aiden Markram’s hitting arc. He explained:
“I felt Prasidh Krishna was probably nervous in the first Test and here it seemed his bouncer too did not have any force. I feel he was bowling at 5-10 kph less than what we have seen in the IPL. He was bowling the length the batters wanted. He was bowling in the slot from where Markram hit him for sixes.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the Karnataka seamer’s short deliveries weren’t high enough to trouble Markram. He said:
“Then he tried to bowl a little short. If you have pace and want to bowl short, the ball should come above the batter’s shoulders. If the ball comes close to the chest and Markram is tall, he is more than six feet, so he hit sixes easily.”
Markram smashed 20 runs in Krishna’s first over in South Africa’s second innings. He clubbed him for two fours and as many sixes to move from 74 to 94 before he brought up his century with two boundaries in the following over bowled by Jasprit Bumrah.
With all said and done on the social media by the experts in the game, It would be upto Prasidh Krishna to go back to the basics and work on his bowling in consultation with former players only to come in stronger as a bright future for Indian fast bowling.