Prasidh Krishna Five Wicket Haul Marks Career Turning Point Says Sunil Gavaskar

Prasidh Krishna Five Wicket Haul Marks Career Turning Point Says Sunil Gavaskar

Prasidh Krishna produced the finest spell of his ODI career against Afghanistan, and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar believes the fast bowler may have finally found the breakthrough moment that could transform his international journey. The Indian pacer claimed his maiden five-wicket haul as India secured a convincing nine-wicket victory in the third ODI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, completing a dominant 3-0 series sweep.

After facing criticism for inconsistent performances and moving in and out of the national side, Prasidh responded in spectacular fashion with figures of 5 for 23, dismantling Afghanistan's top order and setting up another memorable Indian victory.

Gavaskar Sees a New Beginning for Prasidh Krishna

Speaking after the match, Sunil Gavaskar highlighted the depth of Indian cricket and praised Prasidh for making the most of his opportunity.

According to the former India captain, Prasidh could be standing at a turning point in his career after delivering a match-winning performance when the team needed him the most. Gavaskar pointed out that the pacer had gone wicketless in the opening ODI and was left out of the second match, making his comeback performance even more impressive.

The legendary batter emphasized that Indian cricket continues to produce quality replacements, but only players who seize their chances can establish themselves at the highest level.

Fuller Lengths Made the Difference

One of the biggest reasons behind Prasidh's success was his willingness to attack with fuller deliveries.

Gavaskar observed that the right-arm fast bowler used the new ball intelligently, exploiting the extra bounce and movement available on the Chennai surface. Instead of relying on short-pitched deliveries, Prasidh consistently pitched the ball up, forcing Afghanistan's batters into mistakes.

The strategy paid immediate dividends as he removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli to reduce Afghanistan to a disastrous 36 for 4.

An Attacking Bowler Finds His Rhythm

Gavaskar believes Prasidh's natural strength lies in aggressive fast bowling.

He explained that every fast bowler enjoys making batters uncomfortable, forcing them onto the back foot and creating uncertainty with pace and movement. Earlier in his career, Prasidh often bowled too short and allowed batters to score freely.

This time, however, he trusted his strengths, attacked the stumps and consistently asked questions of the opposition. The result was a spell that showcased his pace, accuracy and ability to extract movement from helpful conditions.

Afghanistan Fight Back but India Stay in Control

Despite the early collapse, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi displayed remarkable resilience with a fighting 102, while Azmatullah Omarzai contributed a valuable half-century.

Their partnership briefly revived the innings, but Prasidh returned later to dismiss Shahidi and complete his maiden ODI five-wicket haul, finishing with outstanding figures of 5/23 as Afghanistan were bowled out for 218 in 44.2 overs.

Jaiswal and Rohit Complete the Job

India's chase was never under pressure thanks to another sensational opening partnership.

Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his dream start to ODI cricket with an unbeaten 110, his second century in only three innings, while Rohit Sharma played a fluent knock of 79. The duo added 170 runs for the first wicket, ensuring India reached the target comfortably with nine wickets in hand.

The victory completed a clean sweep over Afghanistan and handed India their first ODI series triumph under captain Shubman Gill.

A Big Opportunity Ahead

Prasidh Krishna's outstanding performance has not only earned widespread praise but has also strengthened his case for a regular place in India's ODI setup. With experienced voices like Sunil Gavaskar backing his approach and confidence growing after a career-best spell, the fast bowler now has a golden opportunity to cement his position ahead of future international assignments.

If he continues to bowl with the same attacking mindset and disciplined lengths, this memorable five-wicket haul against Afghanistan could indeed prove to be the defining turning point of his international career.