"Going to help him regain confidence" - Zaheer Khan sheds praise on Indian bowler's match-defining spell in IND vs SA 2025 3rd ODI 

Former India cricketer Zaheer Khan feels that Prasidh Krishna's performance in the third ODI against South Africa will help him reinstate belief in himself after a couple of difficult outings earlier in the series. The right-arm pacer picked up four wickets, three of them coming in the middle overs, at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Vizag on Saturday, December 6.

Prior to the third ODI, Prasidh Krishna had conceded 133 runs in 15.4 overs, while picking up three wickets. After being introduced into the attack towards the end of the first powerplay, he conceded 27 runs off two overs, with Quinton de Kock smashing three sixes in quick succession.

The pacer was soon taken off the attack and brought on after 16 overs, when the match was delicately placed. South Africa were looking to explode after having laid down a decent platform, but their plans were foiled as they lost three wickets in the space of five overs.

Prasidh Krishna dismissed Matthew Breetzke, Aiden Markram, and Quinton de Kock to reduce South Africa to 199-5 in the 33rd over. He also castled Ottneil Baartman to end the proceedings in the first innings.

"This is what pressure does, it tightens you up, which results in you not hitting that rhythm. When you have 2 tough games, it is never going to be easy. That's what the reflection from the first spell was. But the second spell, when you stack up a few dot balls, you feel at ease, and wickets always help," Zaheer Khan said on Cricbuzz.

"Also, dew was not a factor, and it is a good judge for him from a selection point of view. There was no one on the reserve bench to keep pressure as well. Three seamers was something which was inevitable in this series. This performance is definitely going to help him regain that confidence," Zaheer added.

Prasidh Krishna ended with figures of 4-66 off his 9.5 overs as South Africa were bowled out for 270 after being put into bat first.

"They are chasing a below par total" - Zaheer Khan backs India to win IND vs SA 2025 3rd ODI

The former pacer feels that the bowling unit did a good job of keeping South Africa to just 270 on a good batting surface, where dew might also play a factor in the second innings.

"It is advantage India, they are chasing a below par total. The pitch has looked good. You can take advantage of it. If dew is a factor it is only going to get easier. It should be an easy run chase," Zaheer Khan concluded.

At the time of writing, India are trodding along well after not losing a single wicket in the first powerplay. The score reads 59-0 after 12 overs, with a scratchy Yashasvi Jaiswal looking to get a move on after playing out over 40 deliveries.