In a big decision, India have picked fast bowler Prasidh Krishna over Arshdeep Singh for the fifth and final Test against England at Kennington Oval. England won the toss and chose to bowl first in the series decider. At the toss, Indian captain Shubman Gill confirmed that the team has made three changes.
Dhruv Jurel replaced Rishabh Pant, while Karun Nair came in for Shardul Thakur. The biggest change was Prasidh Krishna returning to the playing XI. Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for this match.
Many fans expected Arshdeep Singh to finally make his Test debut. But the Indian team surprised everyone by choosing Prasidh Krishna instead.
Why Prasidh Got the Nod Over Arshdeep?
There are a few clear reasons why India made this choice. First, Prasidh is known for hitting the deck hard. This skill is different from what Siraj and Akash Deep offer. Both Siraj and Akash swing the ball and bowl around 135 KPH. Arshdeep also bowls at a similar pace and uses swing as his main weapon. So, picking Prasidh adds variety to India’s bowling attack.
Second, Prasidh has extra pace. He can bowl at speeds close to 145 KPH, something no other Indian bowler in the squad can do. This speed, along with his height, can trouble English batters, especially on a green pitch like the one at The Oval.
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Third, Prasidh has already played in this series. He bowled well in the Edgbaston Test. While he was not perfect, he showed promise. Giving him another chance shows that the team management trusts their first-choice players. This sends a strong message that players will get backing, even if they struggle at first.
The Indian team is in a transition phase. Backing someone like Prasidh gives confidence to other players as well. It shows the team is thinking long-term, even while playing a must-win game.
