When India’s squad for the one-off Test was announced, much of the discussion, apart from Rishabh Pant being stripped of the vice-captaincy, centred around Auqib Nabi Dar’s omission. Gurnoor Brar, the 6ft 5in pacer, was picked ahead of the highest wicket-taker from the last Ranji Trophy season. As has become customary, this ignited a debate. The selectors were criticised for alleged bias. From their point of view, Jasprit Bumrah’s absence and the fact that no WTC points are at stake give them an ideal opportunity to test the next batch of players. Gurnoor’s height and his ability to create opportunities on placid wickets have worked in his favour. Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor are the three frontline pace-bowling options India have picked for the one-off Test.
All three were spotted in a huddle after being called over by Gautam Gambhir for a brief chat. This happened before the start of the practice session. Siraj and Prasidh bowled together in tandem for 25–30 minutes in Mullanpur. According to a few reports, Siraj could sit out the Test in order to manage his workload. If that happens, the next most experienced pacer in the squad, Prasidh, will automatically become the leader of the pace attack.
There is a different kind of pressure that comes with leading a bowling unit, especially when you are playing your first Test in India. Even more so if you are Prasidh. He has been the centre of constant criticism and, in the eyes of many, has become public enemy number one. His Test numbers tell a story: 22 wickets in six matches at an average of 34.36, with no five-wicket haul to his name. The sample size is small, but in India, it is often enough to form strong opinions. There have been occasions when Prasidh has showcased his potential, such as at The Oval last year, where he claimed eight wickets, four in each innings.
A strike rate of 43.64 is impressive for a Test bowler. However, what works against Prasidh is his economy rate of 4.73. In a format like Test cricket, control and accuracy define a bowler, and that is where Prasidh appears to be lacking at times. He has the ability to produce game-changing spells but tends to offer too many freebies between good deliveries, giving batters enough opportunities to capitalise.
His tall stature, high-arm release and ability to extract extra bounce from any surface make Prasidh an ideal bowler across all formats, not just Test cricket. The selectors are looking for more tall, hit-the-deck fast bowlers, which is why even Gurnoor is in the squad. That is where the challenge lies. There is significant competition among pacers for places in the Test side. As things stand, Bumrah and Siraj are the two guaranteed starters in Test cricket.
Prasidh still has not cemented his place in the Test team. The Karnataka seamer needs immediate returns, and what better opportunity than a Mullanpur surface that assisted pace bowlers during the IPL, against an Afghanistan side, with no WTC points on the line?
The emergence of Auqib and Gurnoor will put considerable pressure on Prasidh. Both pacers are breathing down his neck. If he has a strong game against Afghanistan, he will strengthen his case for the next Test assignment. However, if Gurnoor plays and performs well, he too will make a compelling case. Bumrah is likely to return for the next Test assignment, and Siraj will certainly be in contention. If there is one pacer for whom this one-off Test carries extra significance, it is Prasidh.
This could be a make-or-break Test for him, as the selectors have plenty of options who offer a similar skill set.
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