After India‘s disheartening defeat in the first Test of their ongoing tour to South Africa, the focus has shifted to the underwhelming performance of pacer Prasidh Krishna, who debuted in the challenging Centurion clash. Criticism surrounded the right-arm speedster as his bowling failed to make a significant impact on the match.
Amidst this scrutiny, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has offered insights into Krishna’s capabilities. Known for his astute understanding of the game, Pathan shared his perspective on the young bowler’s potential, shedding light on aspects that may have been overlooked in the aftermath of the defeat.
Irfan Pathan on Prasidh Krishna’s capabilities
Pathan expressed that Krishna has the potential to bowl much better than he did in Centurion. The former all-rounder emphasized adjusting the length to suit South African pitches. He pointed out that Krishna’s length, similar to Kagiso Rabada‘s, should be full but not for a drive, though this ideal length was lacking in the first Test.
“Prasidh Krishna can bowl much better than how he did in Centurion. His length could be perfect on South African pitches. If you look at the height that Rabada bowls from, Prasidh bowls a similar length, which is full but not for a drive. But that length was not seen in the first Test,” Pathan said on Star Sports.
Also READ: Sunil Gavaskar highlights the root cause behind Shubman Gill’s Test struggles
Pathan’s suggestion for Krishna
Pathan observed that Krishna seemed to be attempting loopy deliveries instead of hitting the deck hard. He suggested that Krishna could achieve more purchase on the pitch by focusing on hitting the deck. The Vadodara-born cricketer attributed the possible challenges in the first match to nerves but expressed hope for an improved performance if Krishna plays in the second match.
“It looked like he was trying to bowl loopy deliveries and not hitting the deck hard. If he tries to hit the deck, he’ll get more purchase. Maybe this was the first-match nervousness. He couldn’t make the adjustment, but I’ll be hoping for a better performance if he plays the second match,” the 39-year-old added.
