Prasidh Krishna got the wickets of Ollie Pope, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith. These three were among the four highest scorers for England in the first innings against India at Headingley. However, just the fact that Prasidh got three wickets doesn’t mean he bowled well.
Although Prasidh got three scalps, he also recorded the worst economy rate by an Indian bowler in Test history. The tall fast bowler went at 6.40 runs per over. He didn’t bowl a single maiden over. And barring these three wickets, he hardly if ever managed to trouble the batters.
Throughout the first innings, all Prasidh was able to do was bowl short. And that too without much control. Pope, Brook, and Smith merely made mistakes; it wasn’t as if he derived an error from them. And so, Prasidh goes into Indian cricket history but not the way he would have wanted to.
Worst economy rate for an Indian bowler in a test innings (min 20 overs)
6.4 – Prasidh Krishna v ENG, 2025
5.91– Varun Aaron v AUS, 2014
5.68 – Kapil Dev v PAK, 1983
5.61 – Anil Kumble vs PAK, 2006
5.60 – Madan Lal vs PAK, 1982
Prasidh’s outing was the sixth most expensive in Test history. But the beauty of red-ball cricket is that it gives you another chance. The tall pacer will get the chance to redeem himself. England are due to bat last. Ben Stokes’ team has found success while chasing in the last couple of years, but it won’t be easy given the pitch seems to have started to do more tricks.
Jasprit Bumrah will be forced to reckon with, and Prasidh has to do his job as India’s third pacer. Wickets will be what Shubman Gill wants but if he isn’t able to do that, he mustn’t leak runs. Prasidh wasn’t able to do so in the first innings but has a chance to prove his naysayers wrong.
Worst economy rate for a bowler in a test innings (min 20 overs)
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Match | Ground | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imran Tahir | 23 | 180 | 0 | 7.82 | AUS vs SA | Adelaide | 22 Nov 2012 |
| Tharindu Kaushal | 22 | 159 | 1 | 7.22 | NZ vs SA | Christchurch | 26 Dec 2014 |
| Zahid Mahmood | 33 | 235 | 4 | 7.12 | PAK vs ENG | Rawalpindi | 1 Dec 2022 |
| Lahiru Kumara | 25 | 164 | 0 | 6.56 | NZ vs SA | Wellington | 17 Mar 2023 |
| Jimmy Sinclair | 20 | 129 | 4 | 6.45 | SA vs AUS | Johannesburg | 11 Oct 1902 |
| Nahid Rana | 20 | 128 | 2 | 6.40 | BAN vs SL | Sylhet | 22 Mar 2024 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 20 | 128 | 3 | 6.40 | ENG vs IND | Leeds | 20 Jun 2025 |
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