Former India batter Mohammed Kaif did not hold back his criticism of fast bowler Prasidh Krishna following India’s ODI defeat to South Africa in Raipur. Prasidh endured a forgettable outing, conceding 85 runs at an economy rate of over 10 runs per over, as the Proteas chased down a mammoth target of 359 with surprising comfort.

Speaking after the match, Kaif said Prasidh looked completely out of rhythm and lacked clarity about his role as a bowler.
“Prasidh… does not know his strengths. He is not extremely skilled in any one area,” Kaif remarked, pointing out that the pacer struggled both with control and variations.

Kaif further highlighted that the absence of India’s established pace trio — Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj — created added pressure on the relatively inexperienced Prasidh. With no senior bowler to guide the attack, the burden fell heavily on him, and the South African batters capitalised.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh also weighed in, questioning the decision to leave out Mohammed Shami from the playing XI. He suggested that Shami’s experience could have made a significant difference, especially on a batting-friendly surface.

With India experimenting ahead of major tournaments, Prasidh’s performance has raised concerns about depth in the pace department — and whether he can fill important roles when senior bowlers are rested or unavailable.