Prasidh Krishna profiles as a specialist pace bowler, and the model deploys him in the new-ball role for GT's optimal XI. His WAR per match of 0.26 is entirely bowling-driven, with a bowling WAR/M of 0.33 that ranks him among the better PP bowlers in the competition. Across 2054 career bowling balls and 92 T20 matches, the numbers are credible.

The model assigns him 4 overs: 2 in the PP and 2 at the death. His bowling role justification is built on powerplay dominance. Krishna posts an 56% PP dot% against a 46% average. His overall dot% of 45% vs 37% confirms the pressure is sustained.

In the PP specifically, his economy of 7.8 sits well below the 8.6 average. 39% of his deliveries come in the first six overs, confirming his new-ball specialist profile.

Bowling Phase Breakdown

Powerplay (1-6): This is where Krishna creates the most value. A 56% dot rate in the PP means more than half of all balls he bowls generate no runs. That rate of pressure forces openers into risk, leading to wickets. His PP economy of 7.8 saves almost a run per over vs the league average.

The combination of high dot rate and low economy is unusual. Many PP bowlers generate dots by bowling wide outside off stump, which keeps the economy low but does not create genuine pressure. Krishna's dot rate suggests he is hitting the stumps and beating the bat, which is a more sustainable skill.

Death Overs (16-20): Krishna bowls 2 death overs as his secondary assignment. His death bowling fit score of 1.12 suggests he can handle the late-overs assignment. His height and bounce make him effective with back-of-length deliveries at the death, a different approach to the traditional yorker length.

Middle Overs (7-15): In recent production, Krishna took 7 middle-overs wickets at 6.8 economy across 47% of his overs. That middle-overs number is excellent, though the model prioritizes his PP and death deployment to maximize phase-specific edges.

Bowling Profile

Krishna's Ecae of 1.19 is among the highest on the squad. He saves more than a run per over compared to league-average bowling in his phases. Over a full 4 over spell, that is nearly 5 runs saved per spell. Extrapolated across a season, the cumulative impact is significant.

His bowling role fit of 1.71 is the highest on GT's roster, confirming the model's strong confidence in this assignment. Among all bowlers in the dataset, very few achieve a fit score above 1.5. Krishna's PP-specific tools are genuinely elite.

His bowling surplus of 70 translates to significant wins above replacement. A strike rate of 14 in recent matches confirms he is a wicket-taker, not just a container. He creates pressure with dots and then converts that pressure into dismissals.

Batting Contribution

Krishna offers zero batting value with 0 career batting balls in the dataset. He bats last and is selected purely for bowling.

PP Dot Rate in Context

A 56% PP dot rate deserves context. The league average is 46%. Among qualified PP bowlers (minimum 100 PP balls), a 56% rate places Krishna in the top decile. That means only roughly 10% of PP bowlers generate dots at a higher rate.

Dot balls in the PP are particularly valuable because they compound pressure. An opener who faces three dots in a row begins taking risks to catch up with the required rate. Those risks lead to false shots and wickets. Krishna's dot generation is the trigger for that pressure cascade.

What This Means for IPL 2026

Krishna's projected WAR/M of 0.40 for 2026 is second among GT bowlers behind Siraj. His xImpact of 41 projects him as a reliable contributor. The 56% PP dot rate is the headline: in a phase where every dot ball matters, Krishna generates them at a rate 10% above the competition.

Paired with Siraj at the death, Krishna's PP assignment gives GT a domestic pace attack that covers all three phases without an overseas slot. That frees up all four overseas picks for batting and spin bowling. For a team building around Buttler, Banton, Phillips, and Holder, that flexibility is invaluable.

Krishna's IPL confidence of 0.70 is moderate, meaning some of his data comes from non-IPL T20s. The model accounts for this with regression, but it also means there is upside if his IPL-specific production matches or exceeds his overall T20 numbers. His raw WAR/M of 0.33 before regression is even higher than the regressed figure, suggesting the model may be conservative on Krishna's true ability.

Bowling Attack Synergy

Krishna's role in GT's attack extends beyond his individual numbers. By handling the PP, he allows Siraj to save his energy and overs for the death. He also gives Holder the option to bowl his overs in the middle where his economy is strongest (7.3). Without Krishna's PP effectiveness, GT would need to use Siraj or Holder with the new ball, which would compromise their deployment in later phases.

The sequencing matters: Krishna overs 1-2, Holder overs 3-4 (PP) and 8-9 (mid), spinners overs 7-15, Siraj overs 18-19. That is a coherent bowling plan where each bowler operates in his optimal phase. Krishna's PP dominance is the first link in that chain.

His height and pace generate bounce that is particularly effective in the first few overs when the pitch is at its freshest. As the innings progresses and the pitch flattens, his effectiveness naturally decreases, which is why the model moves him to the death rather than the middle overs. At the death, his bounce creates an awkward length for batters attempting to play underneath the ball.