Prasidh Krishna, the rookie pacer has given ample proof of his power and strength registering a 4-wicket haul as the hosts of the series win the ODI Series with a 44-run win after defending a modest score.
Yesterday in the second ODI (One-Day International) against West Indies, the game had changed in favour of India after Prasidh Krishna came back into the attacking lineup. Until then, West Indies gave a tough fight.
The hosts were defending a total of 237 runs which is quite modest for an ODI and India needed some early wickets. As soon as the Caribbean openers were settling on the pitch, Shai Hope and Brandon King were starting to get into the groove when skipper Rohit Sharma brought out Prasidh as a bowling change.
Prasidh Krishna has made a name for himself in the T20 format of the game as he played for Kolkata Knight Riders. Debuting in the red-ball format of the game he went all out with an attacking line and length, and a fierce ability to move the ball. The Motera pitch at the Narendra Modi stadium was all spiced up and offered a good bounce along with an off-the-deck movement to the players.
Alzarri Joseph from the opposing team had bowled an amazing spell with the new ball for his team. Prasidh outdid his spell by helping India in clinching the 44-run victory. The hosts have now grabbed the 3-match series after the West Indies team was restrained at 193 runs only.
The Captain of the Indian team had brought in as a wicket-taking option and Prasidh stuck on his classic red-ball principles in terms of the bowling length and line. He struck immediately, hitting a hard length outside off and managed to get that extra bounce. Brandon King while trying to attempt an expansive slash, failed to execute and got himself out. Darren Bravo came to the rescue for the Caribbeans but Prasidh was convinced that he had induced an edge from him as the ball was caught by the wicketkeeper. Umpire Nitin Menon, was not convinced by the appeal but the skipper decided to take the DRS and rightfully so.
The batting line-up of the West Indies team was brittle under pressure. Prasidh managed to remove Nicholas Pooran, the captain of the team. Prasidh managed a 4-wicket haul in his debut ODI match.
This is what India had missed during the 0-3 loss in the ODI series in South Africa when Virat Kohli stepped down from Captaincy and Rohit Sharma missed the series due to a hamstring injury. Prasidh’s presence is good for the team as it had been looking for a replacement for Bhuvaneshwar Kumar. Prasidh along with Siraj, Bumrah and Shammi will be capable of making India’s pace attack meaty across all formats of the game. Prasidh won the Man-of-the-Match title, rightfully timed two days before the IPL Auctions around the corner.
