When he bowled Shaurya Sanandia to deliver Karnataka the 2018 Vijay Hazare Trophy, M. Prasidh Krishna did not immediately realize what had transpired.
It took a moment for the 22-year-old seamer to notice that the leg-stump had been clipped, and the bail dislodged. There may have been some confusion among spectators at the Feroze Shah Kotla, but none of it was about Prasidh's ability.
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In the absence of some of his senior colleagues, Prasidh has been Karnataka's stand-out medium-pacer over the last three weeks, emerging from the Vijay Hazare Trophy as the side's leading wicket-taker (17 victims at an economy rate of 4.8).
He and T. Pradeep ably handled their responsibilities as R. Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun and S. Arvind missed large chunks of the tournament.
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“The team believed in us,” Prasidh said here on Wednesday. “They never pressurized us. There was a very good atmosphere in the dressing room. And we had runs on the board all the time.”
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Prasidh first exploded on the scene in 2015, when he took five for 49 on his first-class debut against Bangladesh-A side in Mysuru. He is yet to play another first-class game. “He should have been in the (Ranji Trophy) team a few years ago now, but unfortunately he didn't get that opportunity,” felt Vinay.
“But it was good for him because he has matured in those two years; he has become a much better bowler.”
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Prasidh awaited his chance without complaint. “I'm happy that I was ready when I got the chance. My fitness had to improve, my bowling had to improve; I worked on that. I was only focused on working hard because other things are not in my hand.
"Karnataka has always had a strong bowling attack. I knew I couldn't relax. I couldn't be sleeping at home,” he said.
Instead, it was the batsmen who were caught napping.
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