IPL 2023: 3 Bowlers RR Can Sign as Prasidh Krishna’s Replacement

In what comes as a significant setback for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) team, fast bowler Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the forthcoming IPL 2023 due to a lumbar stress fracture. One of India’s premier pace bowlers, Krishna last played against Zimbabwe in an ODI in Harare back in August 2022 and since then has been out due to a stress fracture.

However, the injury didn’t heal sufficiently, and the BCCI decided to send him to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and the Royals’ medical staff, who have been working in close coordination, to recommend surgery. Krishna was doing his intense rehabilitation program at the NCA, but showed no signs of progress and went for surgery. Some emerging reports suggest that it will take at least 6-8 months for him to recover after the surgery.

Since being part of the Royals franchise, Krishna has become an integral part of the team. He played a crucial role in taking the Royals to the final of the 2022 season, taking 19 wickets at an average of 29.00 and an economy rate of 8.29 in 17 games. He was retained by RR management for the 2023 edition and was expected to return to action in the upcoming IPL, which will begin later this month.

Unfortunately, it has been confirmed that he will not be able to participate in the cash-rich league for the inaugural champions. The runner-ups of IPL 2022 have to shrug off the disappointment and need to find an able replacement for Krishna. Take a look at 3 possible replacement options.

IPL 2023: 3 Players Who Can Be the Perfect Replacement for Krishna:

3) Vasuki Koushik

Koushik is another player the Royals will consider using as a replacement for Prasidh Krishna. The 30-year-old has been a part of the domestic setup since 2018-19 though he is yet to make his IPL debut. The right-arm seamer has exhibited immense potential in the domestic circuit. In the shortest format of the game, the skiddy pacer has bagged 40 wickets in 33 games at an economy of 7.59. He came into the limelight for his heroics with the ball in last year’s Vijay Hazare Trophy. In that competition, he took 18 wickets to his name in nine games, that too at an exceptional economy of 2.70. Not just that, he had 24 scalps in five Ranji Trophy matches at an average of 15.66 to leave a mark in the marquee tournament. It would be fitting to replace a Karnataka pacer with a fellow Karnataka bowler. 

2) Dhawal Kulkarni 

The Veteran pacer is no stranger to the cash-rich league. Having played for multiple franchises including the Royals, the 34-year-old has an impressive record in the IPL. In 92 matches, he has taken 86 wickets at an average of 28.77, a strike rate of 20.78, and an average of 8.31. In IPL 2020 and IPL 2021, he played just 1 game for his then-franchise Mumbai Indians. After he went wicketless in that match, the management benched him doe the other games. He was also part of the 2013 and 2020 IPL triumphs with MI. He is also a high-utility bowler in the powerplay overs. Being a seasoned campaigner, he mixes the length and line quite well to keep opposition batters in check. His biggest strength is his control of the white ball. Given his wealth of domestic experience, Kulkarni can be an excellent signing for the Royals.

1) Sandeep Sharma

Not exactly a like-to-like replacement for fast and skiddy Prasidh Krishna but Sandeep Sharma is a prominent candidate and can be one of the best replacements for Krishna in IPL 2023. It came as a shock when the IPL veteran went unsold in the last auction. Often regarded as one of the most underrated bowlers in IPL history, Sandeep has picked up 114 wickets in 104 matches at an average of 26.33, with an economy rate of 7.77 and a strike rate of 20.33. Considering his wealth of experience and his record in the toughest T20 league, RR can pick Sandeep on merit. His strength lies with the new ball. He is a specialist in the powerplay overs as he has the ability to swing the ball both ways. Bowling in the backend, he can nail the wide yorkers to put brakes on the opposition’s scoring.