After India’s 6-wicket defeat at the hands of England in the second ODI, rookie pacer Prasidh Krishna said there was very little margin of error for the bowlers on a flat pitch at MCA Stadium in Pune.
Chasing 337 to win, England overhauled the target with 39 balls to spare. Ben Stokes' carnage took the game away from India as he smashed 99 off just 52 deliveries, including 10 sixes and 4 fours. Opener Jonny Bairstow was the top-scorer with 124 off 112 deliveries.
“It was a very good wicket to bat on, no doubt. We scored 330-plus and they chased it down in the 44th over. It says it all,” Prasidh, who returned with figures of 2/58, said during the post-match press conference.
“It was a flat wicket, challenging wicket for bowlers where the margin of error was very, very less… It was an onslaught, we got hit quite bad.”
During the chase, Bairstow and Stokes made the mockery of Indian bowlers, stitching 175 runs for the second wicket in just 117 deliveries.
“We did have a plan, we did talk about the way they were going about it. We tried our best when we bowled. There were a couple of chances that may have gone our way but we must give them credit for the way they played,” Prasidh said.
“We must give them credit but 100 percent there is room for improvement for our bowlers as well.”
Prasidh, who featured only in his second ODI, expressed confidence that the hosts will bounce back in the series-decider.
“That’s the game of white-ball cricket today. With four outside for the 11 to 40 overs, that’s bound to happen. I know we are going to bounce back stronger.
“It was a same situation last game, we did come back and had a great result for us,” added the Karnataka speedster.
Prasidh was also asked about the close run-out call which Stokes survived in the 26th over of England’s innings.
“We are not the ones here to make decisions, the right person was sitting there and I think, whatever he did was all that he could do. We are nobody to comment over that,” he concluded.
The third ODI will also be played in Pune on Sunday (March 28).
(With PTI inputs)
