Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad has been a legendary figure in the sport, having achieved success both as a bowler and as a coach. On the occasion of his birthday, we look back at his remarkable career, his impact on the game, and the fear he instilled in Pakistani batsman.
Venkatesh Prasad’s Birthday
Venkatesh Prasad, the Indian fast bowler, celebrates his birthday on June 12th every year. He was born in Mysore, Karnataka in 1969. Prasad is widely remembered in the cricketing world for his successful career, both as a player and as a coach.
Pakistani Batsman’s Fear of Venkatesh Prasad
Venkatesh Prasad was known for his intense bowling, which was feared by Pakistani batsmen. He was particularly feared by former Pakistani batsman Aamir Sohail, who was once famously quoted as saying, “I was so scared of Venkatesh Prasad that I had to be screwed into my batting stance.”
Aamir Sohail’s Respect for Venkatesh Prasad
Despite being scared of Prasad’s bowling, Aamir Sohail was also known to have great respect for Prasad. He once said, “I have a lot of respect for Venkatesh Prasad. He was one of the fastest bowlers in the world at the time, and he was very consistent in his line and length.”
Venkatesh Prasad’s Successful Career
Venkatesh Prasad had a long and successful career in international cricket. He made his debut for the Indian team in 1996 and went on to play in 79 ODIs and 33 Tests, taking 96 and 121 wickets respectively. Prasad also served as the bowling coach of the Indian team between 2007 and 2009, during which time the team won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.
Venkatesh Prasad’s Expensive Bowling
Prasad was known for his ability to bowl expensive spells, which often cost the team runs. This was especially true in the 1996 World Cup, where he conceded over 100 runs in a single match against Sri Lanka. However, Prasad was also capable of bowling economical spells, as evidenced by his performance in the 1999 World Cup, where he was India’s highest wicket-taker.
