Prasidh has failed to deliver the goods for India [Source: AFP]
Prasidh Krishna is two different bowlers in IPL and T20Is. On the one hand, he has excelled for Gujarat Titans; on the other, his performances for India have remained underwhelming.
As exciting and tempting as his natural attributes are, Krishna hasnāt performed at all in the shortest format. When he returned to the shortest format after three years in the first T20I against Ireland, those performances didnāt improve one bit.
Prasidh Krishnaās underwhelming T20I record
Prasidh Krishna has eight wickets at an average of 34.62 in six T20I innings. However, he has conceded 11.54 runs per over and a boundary every 3.27 balls.
Among all Indian bowlers with at least five T20I innings, Krishna has the worst economy rate. He has conceded 10 or more runs per over in four out of 6 outings and has also been wicketless twice.
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The lanky pacer also holds the record for the most expensive figures by an Indian bowler in an innings. He conceded 68 runs across four overs against Australia in Guwahati in 2023.
Despite finding reasonable success in IPL, Krishna has again started on an underwhelming note against Ireland in a new stint. His issues from 2023 resurfaced, as he ended up as the most expensive bowler with multiple overs from either side.
Why hasnāt Krishna replicated his IPL success in T20Is
Prasidh Krishnaās biggest strength has been his ability to hit back-of-a-length and short lengths consistently with a high-arm action. He hit these lengths consistently in IPL and found ample success with Gujarat Titans.
Since 2025, Krishna has bowled 33.84% and 10.20% short balls in IPL, snaring 22 wickets at 16.22 runs apiece and an economy rate of 8.27. However, he hasnāt hit back-of-a-length balls as consistently in T20Is, which has been the biggest reason for his expensive spells.
In T20Is, Prasidh Krishna has bowled only 25.69% back-of-a-length deliveries, even if short balls (11.11%) have been slightly more. The lengths have often been fuller, with half volleys rising from 7.14% to 12.50%,
Prasidh Krishna hasn't attempted enough back of length deliveries in T20Is
Take the Ireland fixture, for instance. In the 17th over, Krishna bowled as many as three half-volleys, two of which went for maximums and the other for a boundary.
He unnecessarily attempts too many yorkers, on which he has hardly shown control, even in IPL. And whenever he has attempted short stuff, the pacer has at times given too much width.
Prasidh Krishna hasn't bowled appropriate lines on shorter lengths
88.68% of back-of-a-length and short balls in T20Is have been on the lines outside the off-stump, compared to only 54.44% in IPL. No wonder his economy rate on these lengths has been better in IPL (8.27) than in T20Is (12.33).
Should India continue with Prasidh Krishna in T20Is?
Indiaās temptation to have someone like Prasidh Krishna is understandable. With the next T20 World Cup in Australia, they will need such lanky pacers in the side.
However, Krishna hasnāt performed according to his potential and tends to become too floaty at times. They might still give him a few more matches, but they should try other options too.
In the Ireland series, India have Prince Yadav, who brings superior new-ball skills and better control in slog overs. He allows them to use Harshit Rana as an enforcer by sharing the workload with Arshdeep Singh in the other two phases.
They have other options like Mohammed Siraj, who has also shown tremendous improvements in the last couple of years, and Kartik Tyagi, who also brings hit-the-deck abilities to replace Krishna. Someone like Sakib Hussain and Gurnoor Brar also impressed in IPL and have encouraging attributes.
Unlike before, Prasidh Krishna got his favourable entry point against Ireland, bowling majorly in the middle overs. In 2023, India hardly used him as a middle-overs specialist and gave him the powerplay and death overs.
Now, he must prove his credentials soon by executing what he did in IPL. The competition in the shortest format is way more than ODIs and Tests.
In that sense, the UK tour becomes crucial for the pacer. Thereās still time before the next T20 World Cup 2028, and India will try multiple options in this format, especially since thereās a World Cup in 2027.
The newcomers can pip him with immediate performances, and Krishna might fall out of contention by the time of the ICC event. His initial numbers are, anyway, not encouraging.
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