Indian fast-bowler Prasidh Krishna suffered a head injury on Day 2 of India A’s first-class match against Australia A in Lucknow. Batting at number seven, he retired hurt after being hit on the head by Australian pacer Henry Thornton, and though he continued batting for a while, he went off soon after.
The incident happened in the 39th over of the innings. The team physio conducted a concussion test soon after, as it is mandatory. He only batted for three more overs, reaching an appreciable 16 (25) before leaving the field, cutting short a promising eighth wicket partnership with the well-set B Sai Sudharsan.
“He looks fine at the moment. We are monitoring him and a decision will be taken tomorrow,” news agency PTI quoted a team source as saying.
The timing couldn’t be more wrong for Prasidh. It comes only hours before the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to reveal the men’s squad for a two-Test home series against the West Indies. The series begins on October 2 in Ahmedabad, with a second game from October 10 in New Delhi.
Prasidh was part of the India squad that toured England and came back with a good 2-2 draw. He started the series poorly but grew as a crucial cog of the attack alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep.
Though Prasidh wouldn’t be a sure-shot starter, considering the team would likely play more spinners than pacers in the 11 in home conditions, he would have been a good backup. Bumrah’s injury concerns are well-documented, whereas Akash Deep’s fitness isn’t certain either.
The Karnataka man, though, would feel disappointed to not have made the most of the India A game. In the first innings, he bowled 17 overs, conceding 76 runs for just one wicket.
Australia A smashed 420 in only 97.2 overs, before reducing the hosts for only 194. Prasidh didn’t bowl in the small phase of the third innings on Wednesday as Siraj, Manav Suthar and Gurnoor Brar took one wicket each to reduce the Aussies to 13/3.
