India's fast bowler Prasidh Krishna's tour of England is turning into a nightmare. Among bowlers who have bowled 500 or more deliveries in Test cricket, his economy rate is the highest, marking him as the most expensive bowler in Test history.
In the Test played at Headingley between India and England, Prasidh Krishna conceded 128 runs in 20 overs. This was the highest runs given by an Indian bowler in a single Test innings. It had already been regarded as the worst performance of his career, but his disappointment amplified at Edgbaston.
A Nightmare Spell at Edgbaston
At Edgbaston, Prasidh Krishna bowled just 8 overs but gave away 50 runs at an economy of 7.60. In comparison, his economy in the IPL 2025 season was 8.27, which is acceptable for T20 but completely unacceptable for Test cricket.
In this Test, wicketkeeper batsman Jamie Smith targeted him the most. Smith smashed 23 runs in a single over and hit 38 runs off 19 balls in total. Moreover, Prasidh's line and length lacked consistency, employing a short-ball strategy that either achieved chest height or went wayward.
Record-Level Poor Bowling
So far, Prasidh Krishna has bowled a total of 588 deliveries in his Test career, conceding 518 runs, achieving an economy rate of 5.28, the highest for any bowler who has bowled 500 or more deliveries in Test cricket history.
Previously, Prasidh Krishna dismissed Jamie Smith and Harry Brook using the short-ball strategy, which he attempted to replicate. However, the issue lay not with the strategy but its execution. His bouncers neither arrived quickly nor intimidated the batsmen. As a result, England's batsmen targeted him mercilessly.
Having a reliable third fast bowler is crucial in Test cricket, especially in conditions like England. Prasidh's performance is a concern for India. Now, the team management has to make the difficult decision of whether to give him another chance in future matches or to trust another bowler.