20 overs, 93 runs at 4.65 economy to return with just a solitary wicket: Prasidh Krishna had a horror debut in South Africa vs India 1st Test. Now, with India in a series-saving situation heading to Cape Town, India Cricket Team have added another rookie Avesh Khan to the squad. Now the question is, to save the series, will India drop Prasidh for Avesh in SA vs IND 2nd Test?
To make a case for himself, Avesh Khan has more experience with the red cherry than Prasidh Krishna. He has played 38 first-class matches, bagging 149 wickets and seven fifers. Prasidh had only played 12 First-Class matches before making his Test debut.
South Africa vs India: Who will India pick?
After a shoddy bowling show, it’s evident that India need to change their line-up for SA vs IND 2nd Test. Even though Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma have been reluctant to change things often, they must have realised by now that this bowling attack won’t win them a match.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj need support from a third third seamer. And Prasidh Krishna failed in that role badly.
In Newlands, it has been tricky. The pitch has often offered bounce and pace. But even then, South Africa brought in a spinner in the last Cape Town Test in 2021.
Prasidh vs Avesh in FC
| Player | Inn | Wickets | Best | 4W/5W |
| Avesh Khan | 67 | 149 | 7/24 | 9/7 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 24 | 55 | 6/35 | 3/3 |
And if there is bounce and pace, Prasidh Krishna could still be an asset, only if he bowls well.
“Prasidh has played a lot of white-ball cricket for us in the last two or three years, and he has shown that he has got a lot of potential. Obviously, it didn’t work out well for him playing his first game, but we all were nervous when we played our first game,” Rohit Sharma backed Prasidh Krishna after a flop show on debut.
Then, there is Mukesh Kumar. He too has had a lukewarm start to Test career after domestic exploits. Now, the ball is in Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid’s court to take a call on who should they pick. Going by past instances. Both have been resistant to changes and that could see Prasidh Krishna get another match.
But if they do want to look past Prasidh, Avesh with his speed is a good option. As for Mukesh, it does not seem he will get a game outside India.
