India’s pace spearhead Prasidh Krishna’s fitness concerns have resurfaced after he sat out the third day of Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in Indore. The 28-year-old, who was recently named as a traveling reserve for India’s upcoming Test series against New Zealand, had bowled only eight overs on the opening day of the match.
Krishna’s absence on day three raised eyebrows, especially considering his recent injury history. He had missed eight months of action due to a quadriceps injury sustained in January during Karnataka’s previous Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat.
Sources close to the team indicate that Krishna experienced some discomfort while running on the rain-battered outfield at the Holkar Stadium. The outfield conditions were challenging for all players, leading to the cancellation of an entire day’s play on Saturday.
Krishna’s fitness is a major concern for the Indian team management ahead of their five-match tour of Australia starting late next month. The speedster is highly rated by the Indian think-tank, and his form and physical well-being are crucial for India’s chances in the upcoming series.
Karnataka missed Krishna’s services badly on day three, as they struggled to bowl out Madhya Pradesh and secure the first-innings lead. The match is now evenly poised, with both teams having a chance to win.
Krishna’s fitness will be closely monitored in the coming days. If he is unable to recover in time for the Test series against New Zealand, it could force the Indian team to make a late change to their squad.
