Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has heaped praise on the Gujarat Titans (GT) pacer Prasidh Krishna, drawing comparisons with the Australian and RCB fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.
Krishna has been in fine form this season, picking up 21 wickets in 12 matches at a healthy economy of 7.85. The GT pacer's efficient line and length has returned dividends, as Gujarat have been successful in defending totals numerous times this season.
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His best figures of 4/41 came against the Delhi Capitals (DC) this season in Ahmedabad, as GT restricted Delhi to a score of 203 which they chased comfortably with four balls to spare.
Krishna has established himself as the lead bowler for GT this season and is leading in the Purple Cap race. Here's why Chopra compared the Indian quick to Hazlewood.
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Chopra revealed that the clarity regarding his role in the team has improved Krishna's output this season, and GT's bowling coach Ashish Nehra deserves praise for that.
Speaking in the pre-match analysis of Star Sports, Chopra said, "I think role clarity is something that has happened under Ashish Nehra. He's [Prasidh Krishna] has been asked to do what he is best at, which is hit the deck hard and bowl those hard lengths - don't worry about bowling the format, bowl like you usually do."
He then went on to draw comparisons for the GT pacer with the Australian pacer Hazlewood, both of whom have been two of the most consistent bowlers in this edition of the IPL.
Chopra noted that the two bowlers hit hard lengths consistently, which have not only made matters difficult for the opposition batters, but has also proven to be crucial to their team's strong performance this season.
"He's someone who is similar to Josh Hazlewood. I see him as a mirror image of Josh Hazlewood. And he's just maintained hitting those lengths consistently."
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He further added that GT's decision not to give the new ball to Krishna has worked well for the team. Chopra believes that the GT pacer's strength is not in bowling full to extract swing in the e powerplay but in hitting the deck hard in the middle order -- and the extra bounce is a delivery that Indian batters have generally struggled against.
"The one thing that has worked really well for him is that he has not been given the new ball. Because sometimes, when you are given a new ball, you feel like you are obligated to bowl full and swing it from there. That is not his strength, he should continue to keep hitting the back of the length ball, especially to the Indian batters, who will find it tougher."
Aakash Chopra calls Prasidh Krishna an 'anti-thesis' to T20 fast bowling
Earlier, Chopra had praised the GT bowler for being an anti-thesis to what most people think about fast bowling in T20 cricket.
"He’s from the Hazlewood mould of fast bowling. What has happened with him is beautiful actually, because he’s the anti–thesis to what most people think about fast bowling in T20 cricket."
Chopra further added that it's difficult to find someone who hits the hard length ball after ball, which Krishna has mastered effectively this season.
"You see slingers, you see swingers, you see all kinds of bowlers in a sense. But you don’t see a guy hitting the length ball after ball, ball after ball. And he’s tall, high arm action, hits the sticker of the bat, and doesn’t do anything else."