Star Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the third ODI against the West Indies after sustaining a left hamstring injury in the second match in Guwahati.
However, this has once again sparked questions over India’s fast-bowling depth and the recurring injury issues. The latest setback occurs as India continues to prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will host. In an exclusive interview with Sports Now, the 1983 World Cup winner Madan Lal raised concerns over the persistent fitness problems hampering India’s pace bowling options.
Lal questioned whether bowlers are coming back before finishing their recovery and proposed that a closer look at their bowling techniques might be necessary. Given the challenges of playing in South Africa, he emphasised that India will need its top pacers to be healthy and competitive for the World Cup.
Madan Lal On India’s Recurring Fast-Bowling Injuries
Concerns regarding the availability of India’s fast bowlers have been heightened by Prasidh Krishna’s most recent setback. The pacer will miss the third ODI against the West Indies due to a left hamstring strain he sustained in the second match in Guwahati. The BCCI confirmed his absence on October 1 and named Anshul Kamboj as the replacement. Legendary Indian cricketer Madan Lal thinks India should look into the reasons behind these injuries, especially when players are coming back from previous setbacks.
“Either these bowlers are not recovering well, or they are coming back too soon without completing proper rehab. These trainers and physios need to take a serious look at why these injuries are recurring-and maybe there is also something wrong in their bowling action, putting unnecessary stress on the body. Until you address both the recovery process and the technical flaws in their action, these breakdowns will keep happening,” Madan Lal told Sports Now.
Madan Lal On India’s 2027 World Cup Pace Attack
Looking beyond the immediate West Indies series, Lal believes India’s fast-bowling fitness will be an important factor as the team builds towards the 2027 ODI World Cup. The tournament will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with 14 teams set to compete across almost 57 matches. Lal stressed the importance of having several frontline pace options available when the tournament arrives.
“The 2027 World Cup is in South Africa, where conditions naturally demand a strong fast-bowling unit. You need your top 4-5 pacers in peak physical condition and form to win there. If our primary pace attack is constantly battling fitness issues, it directly impacts team combination, bench strength, and ultimately our entire World Cup campaign,” he added.
Prasidh Krishna is just one of India’s many injured players; other important players have missed games or had their campaigns cut short. Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana were among those who were unable to play during the England ODI series. Washington Sundar also sustained a hamstring injury during the series, and Jasprit Bumrah’s knee injury prevented him from playing in the decider.
Earlier in the England series, both Varun Chakaravarthy and Harshit Rana had hamstring injuries; Varun then sustained another injury following his recovery. , Nitish, and Washington had just lately returned, but Hardik, Harshit, and Sai Sudharsan continued to be sidelined. With frequent absences impacting team combinations and making it more difficult to keep a stable squad ahead of the 2027 the pattern has therefore become a constant worry for India.