Former Indian Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara has lavished praise on Prasidh Krishna after he produced an impressive spell on the third day’s play against Sri Lanka at Colombo on Tuesday. Krishna accounted for Sri Lankan opener Lahiru Udara at the fag end of the second day’s play.

The lanky pacer gave an early breakthrough to the visitors on the third day’s play, dismissing debutant Kamil Mishara with a short-pitch delivery. The Karnataka bowler then got rid of Kamindu Mendis with another short delivery.

At the end of the day’s play, Krishna had figures of 3-47 in 14 overs he bowled. Eventually, Krishna finished with 3-52 in the first innings. Pujara said Krishna looked like the go-to-bowler for Shubman Gill.

Pujara said on Cricinfo, “I thought he was exceptional, not only today, but yesterday as well – the kind of lengths that he was hitting. On this pitch, you are getting that extra bounce and lateral movement as well. Even in the first Test, it was impressive that he was willing to pitch the ball up. Siraj is bit more experienced, but Prasidh was looking like the go-to bowler for Shubman Gill.”

Meanwhile, Krishna bowled 13 overs in the first 40 overs of the Sri Lankan innings and he came back into the attack with the second new ball. Pujara reckons Shubman Gill missed a trick as the lanky pacer could have bowled between 55th to 70th over.

“I think somewhere close to the 55th to the 70th over, Prasidh could have bowled a couple of overs, maybe not a longer spell. But Shubman was thinking that he wanted to keep Prasidh fresh for the second new ball. I thought that was slightly delayed. Prasidh could have bowled some overs during that phase where Sri Lanka were building a partnership.”

Sri Lanka was bowled out for 290 and the hosts have been asked to follow-on.