India vs South Africa: Prasidh Krishna isn't ready for Test cricket, says former India bowler

Prasidh Krishna had a tough start to Test cricket as he was smashed for 93 runs in 20 overs for just one wicket on debut in India’s crushing defeat to South Africa in the first Test at Centurion. The most disappointing fact about Krishna’s bowling was the lack of discipline that allowed South Africa to score easy runs and released the pressure that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj built with their bowling.

India lost the Centurion Test by an innings and 32 runs to go 1-0 down in the two-match series.

A former India player in his analysis of Krishna’s bowling said that India made a mistake by picking a bowler who was not ready for Test cricket.

“Poor Prasidh… The kid isn’t ready for Test cricket. He doesn’t have skills to bowl second and third spells yet. They went with him based on his ability to hit the deck. But they forgot when has he last played a proper season of Ranji Trophy? Just one India A game isn’t enough,” a former India bowler told news agency PTI.

India have since added Avesh Khan to the Test squad which indicates that Prasidh is going to be dropped for the second and final Test which will played at the Newlands.

“Avesh is same type of bowler like Prasidh but plays red ball cricket more regularly. So he might hit better lengths. Navdeep Saini is still playing India A for six years. That tells you the story,” the bowler, who refused to be named, said.

The problem with the pace department highlights the scarcity India is facing. Mohammed Shami was ruled out of the Test series due to an ankle injury and in his absence, India are left with just two world-class bowlers in Bumrah and Siraj. At present, none of the reserve bowlers look capable enough to make the jump to the senior side in Test cricket.

Apart from Prasidh, Shardul was also extremely disappointing which is an added headache for India as they continue to search for a pace-bowling all-rounder.