Mild-mannered Prasidh Krishna breathed fire in Chennai. The tall fast bowler doesn’t sledge or show emotion while bowling. He lets the ball do the talking. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t bring volatility when he steps on the field. Prasidh has a knack for picking wickets and going for runs.
The hit-the-deck pacer has been labelled as a middle-overs enforcer. But in Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah‘s absence, Prasidh had the opportunity to show that he’s a proficient all-phase bowler. He couldn’t do much in Dharamshala and was rested in Lucknow.
Upon his return to the side for the India vs Afghanistan 3rd ODI, Prasidh was determined. With Arshdeep Singh going out, he also had the opportunity to take the new ball. He’s known to pitch the ball back and primarily rely on seam movement. But the tall pacer also swings the ball. That’s exactly what was on display on June 20.
Prasidh Krishna’s powerplay masterclass
All it took Prasidh was one delivery to strike. Rahmanullah Gurbaz poked at a ball way outside off. A good-length delivery that swung 2.4 degrees, and the keeper didn’t fully come forward and edged the ball to Rohit Sharma at first slip. He kept getting at it, bowling one great ball after another. Rahmat Shah was his second victim.
The veteran batter wasn’t in control against Prasidh’s pace and movement. In the 6th over, Rahmat almost was caught in the follow-through. Prasidh followed that ball with a back-of-the-length delivery on the off stump. Rahmat wanted to put pressure back and looked to guide to the leg side. But he was in no position to play that shot. The ball held its line, seamed 0.83 degrees, and the outside edge flew to Rohit at first slip.
Ibrahim Zadran fell in a similar manner to Gurbaz. This delivery was slightly outside off, and Zadran tried to play an off-drive. But the ball swung away from him, 2.2 degrees, and once again went to Rohit. In his fifth and last over of the powerplay, Prasidh also got Darwish Rasooli, who tried to attack but holed out as Shreyas Iyer took a good running-back catch.
Best bowling figures for India in powerplay (in ODIs since 2002)
- 5/7 – Mohamed Siraj v Sri Lanka
- 4/6 – Prasidh Krishana vs Afghanistan*
- 4/7 – Bhuvneshwar vs Sri Lanka
- 4/9 – Jasprit Bumrah vs England
- 4/17 – Mohammed Siraj vs Sri Lanka
