Lord's 2014 To Headingley 2025: How Prasidh Used Ishant's Unconventional Strategy

Aashay Chopade

Prasidh Krishna against England (Source: AP Photos)Prasidh Krishna against England (Source: AP Photos)

India are up against England in the opening Test of the five-match Test series in England. The young Shubman Gill-led side scored 471 in the first innings and managed to get a slim six-run lead at the end of England's first batting outing.

Jasprit Bumrah undoubtedly was the stand-out bowler with his 10th fifer in SENA countries. However, despite being expensive and erratic at times, Prasidh Krishna also got three crucial wickets, which helped India keep England in control.

Prasidh Krishna is a tall bowler who relies on the back-of-the-length deliveries for success, a tendency which is generally not considered useful in English conditions. However, India and Krishna still persisted with it and found the desired result with two big wickets of Harry Brook and Jamie Smith.

The strategy was surely a bold call from the Indian think tank, but it was not without evidence. Eleven years back, MS Dhoni's India famously used the same ploy to pull one of India's most memorable wins on the England shores.

Throwback To Ishant Sharma's Memorable Bodyline Stuff In Famous Lord's Win

It was the second Test of India's five-match series against England at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground. India conceded a lead of 24 runs at the end of the first innings. The equation came down to England needing 214 runs on the final day with six wickets in hand, and they knocked down another 68 runs in the morning session to put India in all sorts of trouble.

Thus, England needed just 146 runs, and Moeen Ali, along with Joe Root, were well-set. However, that's where MS Dhoni and Ishant Sharma got together and came up with a short-ball ploy that turned the tides in India's favour. 

On the last ball of the morning session, Moeen Ali failed to control a rising delivery from Ishant Sharma and the repercussions of it were seen after Lunch. In the matter of eight deliveries, Ishant Sharma removed Matt Prior, Ben Stokes and Joe Root - all with short deliveries to script a remarkable India comeback.

Eventually, the tall pacer ended up with a seven-wicket haul using the same short-pitch stuff and helped India register a win around Tea. It was the same pitch where Indian bowlers almost went wicketless in the opening session of the same day, showing the utility of the short-ball stuff in England, contrary to the usual narrative of bowling a fuller-length.

Prasidh Krishna's Short-Ball Strategy: A Gameplan To Defuse Bazball's Aggressive Approach

Thus, Prasidh Krishna's persistence in bowling short was not a case of a bowler finding it difficult to hit the right length; in fact, it seemed like a well-thought-out plan. Firstly, one of the primary reasons for Prasidh Krishna's selection is the variety he brings to the table because of his height.

All other Indian pacers in the XI prefer to bowl fuller lengths, while Prasidh Krishna's natural length is on the shorter side. Thus, if the pitch and overhead conditions do not support the seam and swing movement normally available in England, then Krishna can be used to attack the batters with Plan B.

India did just that in the first innings against England with decent success. There was some help for the pacers, but overall, it was a good batting deck with enough value for shots. Thus, asking one bowler to attack with a different length and angle made sense. 

Secondly, England, with their new Bazball strategy, are always on the lookout for runs. Thus, using a short-ball strategy against batters who are willing to take on the bowler at any cost can give high rewards. It was quite evident in the dismissals of both Jamie Smith and Harry Brook. Shubman Gill had fielders set on the boundary line for a miscued pull or hook against both batters. 

Why Prasidh Krishna Used Short-Ball Ploy Against England?

  • Use Of Variety On Good Batting Deck In Headingley
  • England Batters' Tendency To Attack Despite High-Risk

Normally, in Test cricket, batters refrain from taking on boundary-line fielders unless it is very necessary. However, England play their cricket differently, and both of them went for the maximum result, only to find themselves caught inches ahead of the boundary line. Thus, India knew that England batters would not give up their tendency to attack at any cost, and thus kept using short ball ploy which eventually proved fruitful.

Therefore, India have proved once again that shorter lengths can be effective in England if used strategically. So, even though Prasidh did not recreate Ishant Sharma's heroics of 2014, he did play a significant role in keep England in check on Day 3 at Headingley.