3 reasons why India dropping Prasidh Krishna for IND vs SA 2025 Tests is the wrong move 

Team India announced their 15-member squad for the marquee home Test series against South Africa on Wednesday, November 5. The Asian giants will host the World Test champions for two Tests, starting on November 14.

While the batting and spin-bowling departments were along expected lines, the seam-bowling department had one name missing, raising some eyebrows. Talented right-arm pacer Prasidh Krishna was not part of the roster, with Akash Deep replacing him in a straight swap from India's most recent Test series against the West Indies at home.

The two-match series against the Proteas could be a watershed moment for Team India in their quest to finish in the top two of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) standings. While Shubman Gill's men seemingly have most bases at home, the omission of Prasidh Krishna remains mystifying.

On that note, let us look at three key reasons why India may have got it wrong by excluding Prasidh Krishna from the squad for the upcoming South African Test series.

#1 Prasidh Krishna offers a point of difference to an otherwise one-dimensional pace attack

Prasidh Krishna is a unique commodity in an otherwise one-dimensional pace-bowling attack. With his ability to generate pace and bounce, the 29-year-old offers plenty with the old ball when the pitches are at their flattest.

Meanwhile, all three seamers India have picked for the home series against South Africa prefer taking the new ball to start with. While Jasprit Bumrah can deliver across phases, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep have occasionally struggled when tasked with beginning with the older ball.

Should a situation arise in either of the two Tests where India are required to field three pacers in the playing XI, a possible redundancy with the current pace-bowling roster cannot be denied. Even India's fourth seam-bowling option, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, relies more on movement off the pitch and in the air to be at his best.

A case in point for the above was the Lord's Test of the recent England tour. Team India played all three of Siraj, Bumrah, and Akash Deep, but the latter struggled with woeful match figures of 1/122, having to come on to bowl as the one-change option.

Prasidh could have offered a crucial point of difference, eliminating the sameness from the Indian pace department that prevails in the current squad.

#2 Delivered a match-winning performance in his most recent Test appearance

Prasidh Krishna is among the chief reasons for an elated and optimistic Indian fan base when it comes to Test cricket, and not a disgruntled one. When last seen in action for India in a Test, the speedster delivered magical performances in both innings.

With India trailing 1-2 on their recent England Test tour heading into the series finale, Prasidh picked up four wickets apiece in both innings. His scalps included England's top-scorer in the first innings, Zak Crawley, and the in-form Ben Duckett and Joe Root in the second innings.

The hosts were coasting at 332-4 in their run chase of 374 when Prasidh struck twice in quick succession, dismissing centurion Joe Root and the talented Jacob Bethell. India eventually completed a thrilling six-run win to level the series 2-2.

The drawn series could have easily been a third consecutive Test series defeat with a 1-3 scoreline if Prasidh hadn't delivered his best in the final game at the Oval.

If not a place in the playing XI, the magnitude of such a showing when last seen in action for India should have ensured the Karnataka pacer was part of the squad for the upcoming South African series.

#3 Prasidh Krishna deserved the hierarchical benefit of the doubt

The final specialist pacer spot in the Test squad clearly came down to a straight shootout between Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep. While the latter boasts excellent Test numbers at home and has been relatively impressive in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, the former had to be in front when it came to the pecking order.

In the above-mentioned Oval Test, which was Prasidh and Akash Deep's last Test outing for India, there was only one winner. As the former was propelling India to a memorable win with eight wickets, the latter struggled with match figures of 2/165.

Furthermore, Prasidh was also part of the squad ahead of Akash Deep in India's most recent Test series against the West Indies at home. Despite not playing in either of the two Tests, the former has been excluded, raising questions about selection parameters.

If the most recent Test form and squad selections are anything to go by, Prasidh Krishna should have walked into the 15 ahead of his fellow pace-bowling mate Akash Deep.

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran