IPL 2025: With 17 wickets in 9 games, Prasidh Krishna emerges as a Purple Cap contender — Here’s what makes him stand out.
Fast bowlers are no strangers to injuries, the physical demands of pace bowling take a toll on even the fittest athletes. But few stories in recent IPL history are as inspiring as that of Prasidh Krishna. After missing two consecutive seasons due to a stress fracture and a quadriceps injury, the 29-year-old speedster has returned to the big stage, and how!
Now playing for Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League 2025, Prasidh is one of the leading wicket-takers and is closely competing with Josh Hazlewood for the Purple Cap, awarded to the tournament’s highest wicket-taker. It’s a stunning turnaround for someone who was unsure if he’d even be the same bowler again.
“Coming into the IPL, I told myself two things could happen: either I return and it’s the same Prasidh with no difference, or I come back as a different bowler, capable of making more impact and controlling the game. I’m glad the better one is happening,” he said recently while speaking in the JioHotstar Press Room.
The Long Road Back
Prasidh’s IPL journey began with the Kolkata Knight Riders, for whom he played four seasons between 2018 and 2021. Though he picked up 30 wickets in 34 matches, his economy rate was on the higher side, about 9.3 runs per over.
Then came his big breakthrough with Rajasthan Royals in 2022, who spent a whopping Rs 10 crore on him at the auction. He justified their faith by claiming 19 wickets in 17 games with an improved economy rate of 8.3.
But just when it looked like he was cementing his place in Indian cricket, injuries derailed his career. First a stress fracture in his back ruled him out of IPL 2023, followed by a quadriceps injury that kept him away in 2024.
Many questioned whether he could come back strong, but Gujarat Titans took a gamble, buying him for Rs 9.5 crore at the 2025 auction. It turned out to be one of the smartest moves of the season.
Read More: IPL 2025, GT vs DC, Highlights: Buttler’s whirlwind 97* takes Gujarat to pole position
Prasidh Krishna’s performance year by year
| Year | Matches | Wickets | Econ |
| 2025* | 9 | 17 | 7.8 |
| 2022 | 17 | 19 | 8.29 |
| 2021 | 10 | 12 | 9.11 |
| 2020 | 6 | 4 | 9.37 |
| 2019 | 11 | 4 | 9.34 |
| 2018 | 7 | 10 | 9.28 |
Dream Start with Gujarat Titans
Prasidh Krishna has taken 17 wickets in just nine matches for GT this season, with an economy rate of 7.8, his best in any IPL so far. He didn’t start off spectacularly, he went wicketless in his first game against Punjab Kings, conceding 41 runs, but has since picked up at least one wicket in every match.
Prasidh Krishna’s performance so far in IPL 2025
| Opponent | Overs | Wickets | Economy |
| PBKS | 3 | 0 | 13.67 |
| MI | 4 | 2 | 4.5 |
| RCB | 4 | 1 | 6.5 |
| SRH | 4 | 2 | 6.25 |
| RR | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| LSG | 4 | 2 | 6.5 |
| DC | 4 | 4 | 10.2 |
| KKR | 4 | 2 | 6.2 |
| RR | 4 | 1 | 11.8 |
It was in the game against DC, a well performing team this season, where Prasidh truly proved his mettle. Despite a belter of a pitch and Ahmedabad’s unforgiving afternoon heat, he bowled with pace, discipline, and clever variations to turn the tide in GT’s favour.
A Bowler Who’s Grown Smarter
What sets Prasidh apart this season isn’t just his pace, though he consistently hits speeds above 140 km/h, but his intelligence and maturity as a bowler. He credits this transformation to GT’s head coach, Ashish Nehra.
“I didn’t do anything different — the preparation was better. I was clear about what I needed to work on, put in the hours, and had the right conversations with Ashish Nehra. One key thing I’ve learned from him is reading the conditions and making smart decisions at the top of your run-up,” Prasidh said.
Prasidh now reads the pitch better, understands when to bowl full, when to go short, and how to use bounce effectively. His tall frame allows him to extract steep bounce, making life tough for batters. He’s also developed the ability to bowl accurate yorkers, especially during the death overs.
Quick reflexes ⚡ Calm demeanor 😏
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 21, 2025
🎥 Prasidh Krishna continues his wicket-taking streak 👏
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The Art of Deception
One underrated aspect of Prasidh Krishna’s game is his subtle ability to deceive batters. While most fast bowlers change their release point to vary the length, Prasidh manages to do it with very minimal change in his release height.
This means batters can’t easily pick whether he’s going for a fuller delivery or a short one, making it hard for them to prepare or premeditate shots.
Such subtle deception is usually associated with spinners or crafty medium-pacers, but Prasidh has added this to his fast-bowling arsenal, making him a unique threat.
A Bowler Made for the Middle Overs
Gujarat Titans have also been smart in how they’ve used Prasidh. Unlike previous seasons where he was mostly used with the new ball or in death overs, GT are using him extensively in the middle overs, when most teams look to consolidate or accelerate.
His ability to generate bounce and hit the hard length has troubled many top-order batters trying to go after him. This also allows GT to preserve other bowlers like Siraj or Rashid Khan for the beginning or end of the innings.
What Lies Ahead?
With the business end of the IPL approaching, all eyes will be on whether Prasidh can maintain this form. If he does, there’s a strong chance he could return to the Indian setup later this year, possibly for the T20 World Cup.
He has shown not only the skill and physical strength but also the mental resilience required to succeed at the highest level. Fast bowling is often about how well you recover, not just how fast you bowl. In that regard, Prasidh Krishna’s comeback is already a masterclass.
Read More: IPL 2025, GT vs MI, Hits an Flops: Gujarat bowling shines through, helps them open account
