India needed to put West Indies under pressure with the bowl while defending what looked like a below-par total of 237 in the second ODI in Ahmedabad. Prasidh Krishna gave just what was needed with his blazing first spell that read 4-2-3-2.
While Krishna had shared the new ball duties with Mohammed Siraj in the first ODI, today he was brought on as first-change with Shardul Thakur given the new ball with Siraj. In the first ODI, Krishna had derailed West Indies with two late wickets, including that of their top-scorer Jason Holder. In the second, however, he hurt the visitors with a couple of scalps early in their chase.
That Prasidh Krishna bowled half of his first spell deliveries on length and the other half on short length was characteristic. He had seen Thakur been taken for runs when the seamer went full looking for movement in the air.
Brought on after Thakur had conceded three boundaries, Krishna knew what was needed on this surface: to hit the hard lengths and trouble the batters with his pace, bounce, and the seam movement available from the pitch – instead of attacking the stumps while going full.
With that tactic, Krishna had the West Indies batters jumping, hopping, slashing and missing. One of those slashes caught the edge of Brandon King’s blade. A hard length delivery well outside off elicited a wild cut shot from King, but he couldn’t get up to the bounce and edged it to Pant.
On the first ball of his second over, the speedster had Darren Bravo with an even better delivery: another short length delivery, angled across the left-hander that zipped at Bravo as he was late in bringing his bat down. The ball took a faint edge through to Pant. The umpire, however, denied the appeal with the bat also hitting the pad. But Rohit took the review and the decision was overturned.
Shamarh Brooks played out rest of the 5 balls of the over to complete a wicket-maiden for Krishna; his next over was also a maiden, with Brooks failing to connect any of his big shot attempts. Krishna returned in his second spell to dismiss West Indies’ stand-in captain, Nicholas Pooran, edging to Rohit in the first slip.
This spell of aggressive, hostile, and highly accurate fast bowling has got the netizens praising Prasidh Krishna.
Here are some of the reactions:
Prasidh reminding us of Javagal Srinath. Top class bowling ? #DoddaMathu #CricketTwitter
— ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ | Dodda Ganesh (@doddaganesha) February 9, 2022
Good to see Prasidh Krishna coming into his own. So much promise.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 9, 2022
DNA test needed… Prasidh bowling like McGrath… what a spell today
— Doing something productive (@ShaheenHypebot) February 9, 2022
Prasidh is letting it off a string today! Impeccable bowling – the pitch is suiting his natural hard length as well but he’s got it absolutely spot on #INDvWI
— Soorya Sesha (@sooryasesha7) February 9, 2022
Bharat Arun, former India bowling coach, in a recent chat had rated Prasidh Krishna highly, saying he has the mental fortitude, pace and heart to bowl fast. Krishna showing his skills now.
— Ayan (@ayan_acharya13) February 9, 2022
Superb Bowling by Prasidh Krishna. He bowled 2 Overs and picked 2 Wickets and given just 2 runs with a maiden over against West Indies in 2nd ODI match.
— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) February 9, 2022
Holdingesque bowling by Prasidh
— Azfaar (@iamazfaar) February 9, 2022
How WI batters seeing Prasidh today. #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/MRpj73A3vm
— Balu
(@TheNameisBalu_) February 9, 2022
(@TheNameisBalu_) Prasidh would make a brilliant test player . Our test bowling riches are huge .
— Dr. P.S -189 ? (@SloggSweep) February 9, 2022
Prasidh Krishna
???Breathing fire man.
Love this kinda fiery fast bowling ??
— Mohit Katta (@MohitKattaC1733) February 9, 2022
