Prasidh Krishna auditions for Perth Test with all-round performance vs Australia A

India A pacer Prasidh Krishna impressed with his all-round skill against Australia A in the second unofficial Test, in a performance that puts him in line for a recall to India’s Test side. With a lethal spell and a timely knock, Prasidh signaled his readiness for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, potentially locking in a spot in India’s pace lineup for the Perth Test on November 22.

In a fiery start to the second innings, the 6’2″ seamer struck twice within his first over, dismissing both Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft for golden ducks. Harris and Bancroft, both considered Test hopefuls for Australia, were left stunned by Prasidh’s opening burst. Bowling around the wicket to the left-handed Harris, Prasidh angled in a full-length delivery, which swung in slightly and found Harris’ inside edge, nestling into the gloves of Dhruv Jurel. Prasidh followed up by removing Bancroft on the very next ball, putting Australia A on the back foot and showcasing the swing and seam movement that could make him a handful on Perth’s bouncy track.

Earlier in the day, Prasidh also made a valuable contribution with the bat, scoring 29 crucial runs to push India A’s total to 229 in the second innings. His 4-50 in Australia A’s first innings nearly yielded a five-wicket haul, showcasing his ability to strike consistently and contribute to the team’s scoreboard pressure.

Prasidh’s bowling not only broke partnerships but showcased his skill in exploiting bounce and movement off the pitch. He dismissed Jimmy Peirson with a delivery that leaped off a length, with Jurel taking a sharp low catch to end their 68-run partnership. Later, Prasidh returned to dismiss Harris again, with the left-hander edging an attempted drive to Jurel while on 74. He also drew Scott Boland into a false shot, which was safely caught by Abhimanyu Easwaran at first slip.

India’s selection panel will soon decide the third pacer to join Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in the Test series. Prasidh’s blend of bounce, seam movement, and confidence makes him a formidable candidate, especially with Mohammed Shami’s return to the team looking uncertain.