Debasis Sen in London
Prasidh Krishna has been a central figure in India’s bowling attack during the gripping fifth Test against England at The Oval, where the outcome still hangs in the balance heading into the final day. The tall and lanky fast bowler from Karnataka reignited India’s hopes late on day four with two wickets in the space of nine balls – including the prized scalp of Joe Root for 106 – as England stumbled in their pursuit of 374. With just 35 runs required and four wickets in hand, Krishna’s breakthroughs came at a crucial juncture, especially with a new ball due in 3.4 overs and India’s seamers returning fresh after a taxing day in the field.
So far in the second innings, Prasidh has bowled 22.2 overs, picking up 3 wickets for 109 runs — a figure that reflects both his wicket-taking potential and tendency to leak runs, a recurring concern. Since his debut against South Africa at Centurion on December 26, 2023, Krishna has featured in six Test matches, collecting 21 wickets at an average of 35.19. On his Test debut, he bowled 20 overs for figures of 1/93.
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In the ongoing series against England, Krishna is playing his third Test. Across the games at Headingley, Edgbaston, and now The Oval, he has bowled a total of 100.2 overs, conceded 402 runs, and taken 13 wickets at an average of 38.61. At Headingley, he registered figures of 3/128 and 2/92, while at Edgbaston, he struggled with 0/72 and 1/39. Dropped for the third and fourth Tests, he was recalled for the fifth at The Oval only due to Jasprit Bumrah’s unavailability and an injury to Arshdeep Singh.
What sets Prasidh apart from other Indian pacers is his ability to extract bounce from just short of a good length, a skill that influenced his selection. However, his lack of consistency remains a significant concern — a factor that could prove costly with England so close to victory. While Krishna has delivered key breakthroughs throughout the series, his tendency to concede runs under pressure means India cannot afford any lapses on the final morning if they are to prevent a 3-1 series defeat.
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