'He's One Of Those Promising Prospects'- Says Rahul Dravid As Prasidh Krishna Makes Test Debut
Prasidh Krishna received his Test cap from Jasprit Bumrah (Twitter)
Young speedster Prasidh Krishna was named in India's playing XI for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, marking his debut in the longer format of the game. The match that is set to be played in Centurion saw Prasidh being preferred over Mukesh Kumar, who was also a strong candidate for the spot.
SA vs IND: Rahul Dravid opens up on Prasidh Krishna's Test debut
Prasidh's inclusion is largely influenced by his physical attributes - particularly his notable height and proven ability to generate substantial bounce from the pitch, a trait deemed highly valuable on the South African pitches known for assisting pace bowlers.
Indian head coach Rahul Dravid, while discussing Prasidh's selection, highlighted the pacer's journey and potential. Dravid acknowledged that Prasidh, though a prominent figure in Indian cricket, had limited exposure to first-class cricket.
This lack of experience was attributed to a series of injuries and the prodigious pacer's extended involvement in the limited-overs format of the game. Despite these challenges, Dravid expressed a firm belief in Prasidh's capabilities, especially his unique skill set that aligns well with the conditions in South Africa, a country where bounce can be a crucial factor in pace bowling.
“Yeah, I think he's really one of those promising prospects. But I think we've also got to be realistic about the fact that it is his first Test match. He has our support. He's been around for the last seven or eight years but hasn't had an opportunity to play a lot of first-class cricket for a variety of reasons with injury, and being involved with the white ball setup for a long time. So it's not a lot of first-class cricket to fall back on for someone like Prasidh Krishna, but he certainly has that ability,” said Dravid.
Dravid further added that Prasidh possesses an impressive ability to generate bounce.
Observing the effectiveness of the South African bowling attack over the years, Dravid noted that having such a talent in the Indian team is a significant advantage.
“He's got the bounce, which we think is quite an important factor in these conditions in South Africa. Just looking at the South African attack over the years, so that's something nice to have in our armory as well. And I'm just really hoping that he has a good game and really enjoys himself,” added the 50-year-old.
The Indian veteran also delved into the broader significance of playing test cricket for India. He spoke about the immense competition in Indian cricket and the level of commitment and sacrifice required from players and their families to reach this stage.
“I think it's always a privilege to be able to play for your country. It's a dream for any young boy growing up in India. The level of competition that we have in India, just the sacrifices that I think he and his family would have made for him to get here. It's such a lovely moment. It's such a happy moment. And it always gladdens my heart when we're able to give out a new cap to someone who thoroughly deserves it as a player and really as a person as well,” concluded Dravid.
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