Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif did not hold back in his analysis of Prasidh Krishna’s performance during the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur. India failed to defend a massive total of 359 in conditions dominated by dew, as the Proteas completed a record-equalling chase.
Prasidh ended the match with figures of 2/85, making him the most expensive bowler on the field. Despite picking up two wickets, he conceded runs at over 10 per over, drawing sharp criticism for his lack of control and limited variations. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif questioned both Prasidh’s skillset and his approach to bowling at the international level.
Prasidh Krishna’s Struggles and Lack of Variations
Kaif highlighted that Prasidh has struggled with consistency in the past, even in Test matches in England, where he often leaked runs. According to Kaif, Prasidh’s main strength is hitting the deck, but he lacks a diverse set of skills and does not bowl slower deliveries, which limits his effectiveness in international cricket.
“He does work on variations in the IPL, but international cricket is a different challenge. The ball was wet, so maybe we can give him some benefit of the doubt. Bowling with a wet ball is difficult, especially for inexperienced bowlers,” Kaif explained.
Lack of Experience in India’s Pace Attack
Kaif also emphasized the overall inexperience in India’s pace attack for the ongoing series. With senior bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj absent, the younger pacers have limited guidance and mentorship on the field.
“There is less experience in bowling. When this team was picked, I mentioned it. No Bumrah, no Shami, no Siraj. If you want to transition, you need some seniors with the juniors. Prasidh, Arshdeep, Rana – how many games have these players actually played? You need senior pacers to guide them. This team has a lot of inexperienced pacers,” Kaif said.
Kaif’s comments underline the challenges India faces in maintaining consistency in their bowling attack without experienced campaigners. The spotlight now falls on Prasidh Krishna to improve his control and variations if he wants to succeed at the highest level.
