Shubman Gill drops Prasidh hint as India weigh pace options in Bumrah's absence
India captain Shubman Gill has dropped a strong hint that Prasidh Krishna could partner Mohammed Siraj with the new ball in the first Test against Sri Lanka, while admitting that the choice between the Karnataka pacer and rookie Gurnoor Brar remains a “tough call.”
The first Test starts on Saturday, with Jasprit Bumrah missing the series due to a knee injury. Siraj is the only certainty among India’s four pace options, leaving the team with a decision to make over who takes the other spot.
India are expected to play three left-arm spinners, with Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar offering the orthodox option and Kuldeep Yadav providing the wrist-spin variety. That makes the second seamer’s slot the main selection question.
The choice is between the 6 ft 5 in Brar and Prasidh, who is an inch shorter and has played seven Tests, taking 25 wickets. Auqib Nabi is not in contention for the opening game.
“Gurnoor Brar is excellent with the old ball as he can extract bounce at a good pace. But Prasidh Krishna is bowling well of late as we have seen in the warm-up match. So it’s a tough call,” Gill said on the eve of the Test.
Gill believes Bumrah’s absence gives the other pacers an opportunity to step up and take responsibility.
“Jasprit Bumrah is not here but it’s an opportunity for someone to step up. It’s all about understanding the pace of the game,” he said.
With Bumrah out, Siraj is now the most experienced seamer in the squad. Prasidh, Brar and newly called-up Auqib Nabi are the other pace options available to India.
MORNE WANTS PACERS TO ADAPT QUICKLY
India bowling coach Morne Morkel expects the conditions in Sri Lanka to test the fast bowlers, particularly once the Kookaburra ball starts to lose its hardness.
“Our skill is there, and the planning will be there, but the biggest challenge coming to Sri Lanka is the heat, the humidity, and the Kookaburra ball going soft a little earlier. It will go soft after 25 or 30 overs, so we have to expect that,” Morkel said at the pre-match press conference.
“In these conditions, it’s all about your mindset. If you’re a fast bowler, if you’re going to bowl the shortest spells, the energy you put into the ball and putting it into good areas, you’ll always have opportunity.”
Morkel also stressed the need to maintain intensity and build pressure as the Test progresses.
“As the Test match will go on, hopefully there will be a little bit of uneven bounce. It’s about how we can stack up overs together with intensity and create that pressure because we haven’t played a lot of red-ball cricket in the last couple of months; going back into that is going to be a challenge as well,” he said.
With Bumrah unavailable, India will look to Siraj to lead the pace attack, while Prasidh and Brar will be hoping to make the most of their opportunity.
– Ends
