Abhishek Nayar explains Prasidh Krishna’s success versus England

Abhishek Nayar, the former India all-rounder, has praised pacer Prasidh Krishna’s exceptional bowling execution following India’s commanding six-wicket victory over England in the first ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Krishna removed Jos Buttler and Sam Curran in successive deliveries of the same over as England’s batting crumbled to 80 for 5, and Nayar has now dissected what made the pacer’s display so lethal in Birmingham.

Krishna has already shown his prowess across formats this year. Against Afghanistan in the third ODI at Chennai on Saturday, June 20, he produced a career-best five-wicket haul with figures of 5 for 23, bowling Afghanistan out for 218. Now, heading into the England tour, the right-armer’s reputation for accuracy and pace has grown further after his measured performance on seaming conditions at Edgbaston.

“Prasidh Krishna has been priceless in this format. He picked up five wickets against Afghanistan. Looked unbelievable with the lengths he hit, even in Tuesday’s game. You saw 37 per cent of that six to eight metres, which we always talk about,” Nayar said on JioStar.

The reference to the six to eight metre zone, a critical bowling length in ODI cricket, underscores how precisely Krishna executed his plans at Edgbaston. That consistency in hitting the most testing area proved deadly.

Krishna’s variation separates world-class from ordinary bowlers: Nayar

What separates world-class bowlers from the rest, according to the analyst, is an ability to move beyond one repetitive length. Nayar observed that Krishna’s skill set extends well beyond just bowling at a single spot repeatedly.

“What was impressive was 27 per cent on the fuller side as well, which means you are not one-dimensional. You are not bowling the ball continuously at one spot. You are also challenging the drive, and when you are doing that in conditions where the ball is doing a bit, you know you will always get a wicket, or it’s around the corner,” Nayar added.

This variation in length, mixing short-pitched deliveries with fuller balls, marks mature fast bowling in the 50-over format. Krishna’s dual breakthrough at Edgbaston, removing Buttler and Curran in the same over, demonstrated how effective his length strategy had become under pressure, as England reeled at 80 for 5.

The Men in Blue hold a 1-0 series lead with the second ODI coming up on Thursday, July 16, at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. After dominating the first match, the visiting side will target another victory to take an unassailable grip on the three-match series, with Krishna expected to remain a key bowler in the remaining fixtures.

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