MUMBAI: Another impressive outing from Prasidh Krishna, who returned figures of 3-47 in 14 overs on a day when Sri Lanka’s batsmen showed plenty of determination before rain halted play, emerged as one of India’s biggest positives on the third day of the second Test at SSC.The tall player used the short ball effectively to dismiss Kamil Mishara and Kamindu Mendis, underlining his growing stature in India’s pace attack.Krishna’s journey to becoming a reliable bowler dates back to two formative spells during his teenage years.In 2016, as part of the IDBI Federal Bowling Foundation, he traveled to Australia with Tushar Deshpande and other young pacers to train with Australian fast bowling great Jeff Thomson at the Cricket Australia Center of Excellence in Brisbane.Dr Makarand Waingankar, a former cricket administrator, believes the exhibition played an important role in Krishna’s development. “They trained under Thomson, Greg Chappell and Michael Kasprowicz. That exposure was very useful for Prasidh and helped improve his skills,” Waingankar told TOI.A year later, Krishna joined the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, where he honed his craft under legendary Australian speedster Glenn McGrath. Over the years, McGrath and Brett Lee have praised the Karnataka pacer, reinforcing the belief that he possessed the necessary attributes to succeed at the highest level.One of Krishna’s greatest strengths today is his ability to combine a sharp bounce with a sharp legcutter and a well-disguised swinging seam delivery. MRF Pace Foundation head coach M Senthilnathan feels those qualities have helped him evolve into a bowler capable of making an impact whenever India needs a breakthrough.“We always felt that he had the potential to play at the highest level. Slowly, Krishna is becoming a spearhead of the Indian team and consolidating his place. The most important thing is that he picks up wickets every time he comes into the attack and breaks partnerships,” Senthilnathan said.The coach believes that regular opportunities at the international level have accelerated Krishna’s growth. “The faster the players play, the more confidence they have. Now he feels like he belongs in the Indian team. The management has given him confidence and he has seen that, after all, there is something special about him.”Senthilnathan highlighted Krishna’s height, pace and ability to hit at crucial moments as hallmarks of a mature fast bowler. “He has extra bounce, good speed and makes breakthroughs exactly when India wants them. Those are signs that he is maturing and becoming a strike player.”While India captain Shubman Gill recently described this as the best version of Krishna, his former coach believes there is more to come. According to Senthilnathan, Krishna is learning to use the short ball to create pressure before finishing off batsmen with fuller deliveries, an important skill for a modern Test pacer.Krishna’s rise is even more notable considering the serious back injury that once threatened to derail his career. The injury required surgery and kept him out of the game for an extended period. Now 30, however, the quick player looks fitter, stronger and more confident.“He has learned how to take care of his body and what it takes to have a long career. He understands his workload and follows the proper strengthening programs,” Senthilnathan said.Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, Krishna’s height remains a major advantage as it allows him to perform awkward bounces. With growing confidence, fitness concerns behind him and backing from the team management, the Karnataka pacer is looking more and more like the bowler India believe he can become.
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