Prasidh Krishna broke the back of South Africa's top and middle order in third ODI.
India pacer Prasidh Krishna came back strongly to claim four wickets after leaking a few runs in his first spell during the series-deciding third ODI against South Africa in Visakhapatnam on Saturday (December 6).
Opting to bowl first, the hosts bundled out the Proteas for 270 in 47.5 overs. Krishna broke the back of South Africa's top and middle order, returning with figures of 4 for 66 in 9.5 overs. Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav also picked up four wickets by conceding 41 runs in 10 overs.
In reply, the Men in Blue rode on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s maiden ODI ton (116* off 121) and half-centuries from Rohit Sharma (75 off 73) and Virat Kohli (65* off 45) to get over the line with nine wickets and 61 deliveries to spare, clinching the series 2-1.
Speaking after the match, Krishna revealed that he had a hard think on what he could do after being torn apart in his initial spell.
“It was really hard for me because there were a couple of really poor balls and a couple of really good shots. I actually sat back and then thought, ‘what’s going on, what’s the way for me to get back?’ I had to come back in, I had to bowl my overs and that’s the good thing about cricket for us as well," the lanky quick said.
“If you have a bad spell, you always get another spell to come in and all that I thought was, bring the stumps in play, try and make sure I don’t give them any room or length to get under and it kind of worked out," he added.
Asked if the conditions were more bowling-friendly, having not to bowl in the second innings with dew around, Prasidh replied: “I would say so, yes, but then I wouldn’t really blame it on the dew or the pitch being any harder in the last couple of games as professionals, I think we are expected to face tough challenges and as bowlers, we would always want to overcome them."
Prasidh Krishna also commended his fellow Indian fast-bowlers – Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana – and spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
“A lot of credit goes to Arsh and Harshit the way they started. Harshit also, when he came back in that spell, he made sure he kept it really quiet, didn’t really try a lot of things and that was the pressure in itself and then for Kuldeep to come on and pick those wickets," Prasidh said.
“Overall, if you look at the three games, I think we have done well as a bowling unit. I was under a bit of pressure definitely after the last game. The talk was just about what went wrong, what can we do better and it was pretty clear because I know what I can do, I know the areas that I can bowl. It’s just about turning up on that day and making sure you keep them simple, be calm and give yourself the best chance to execute them," he remarked.
Krishna was effusive in praise of India’s top-three batters for getting the job done so efficiently during the chase.
“The batting has always been good, they have been batting really well and for us to do it in the way that we did today is special. It was due that Rohit had to get a bog score and Yashasvi as well, he has been working hard in the nets and all of us know what the King can do. It’s good to be having such good batters on our side," he concluded.