Venkatesh Prasad

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Venkatesh Prasad is a former Indian fast bowler who dominated world cricket in the 1990s. His duo with Javagal Srinath was considered one of the most challenging bowling pairs to face for any opponent. Where Srinath was known to trouble the batsmen with his steep bouncers, it was Prasad who baffled them with his seam movements. Venkatesh Prasad and Javagal Srinath.While studying in school, Prasad took to Hockey as the school didnt have a cricket facility. It was only when he reached college that he started playing cricket. Apart from that, he also played volleyball, basketball, football, and kabaddi for his school team.According to Prasad, it was legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev who inspired him to pursue the sport. The other person who inspired him was Nelson Mandela to whom he met in South Africa for the first time.He nurtured his bowling skills at MRF Pace Foundation in Madras, where he perfected the outswinger delivery which is known as one of his most lethal deliveries.It was at the age of 26 when he got the call to play for India. But it all started at the age of 19 when he stepped out into the cricket world.His most iconic spell came against Pakistan when he brought them on the backfoot with his brilliant bowling performance of 5 for 27 in the 1999 World Cup while defending a total of 227 runs.During the quarter-final match of the 1996 World Cup, Aamir Sohail hit Venkatesh Prasad for a boundary after which Sohail sledged Prasad. Venkatesh Prasad came back strongly at the very next ball when he rattled his stumps. This came as the turning point, and Pakistan lost the game. After that match, Prasad said, I have never worried about being hit. It only fires me up, makes me want to bowl a better ball..During Rahul Dravids debut test match on 20 June 1996 at Lords, Dravid was staring at the Honours Board of Lords Cricket Ground. Suddenly, Venkatesh Prasad approached Dravid and asked him to score a century and said that he (Venkatesh) would take a five wickets haul. so that both could carve their names on that Honours Board. Although Rahul Dravid missed his century by just five runs, Venkatesh Prasad kept his words with the magical spell of 5 for 76 runs; it was the legendary umpire Dickie Birds last match.Venkatesh Prasads cricket career was a saga of injuries. He played his final match in 2001 against Sri Lanka. He was dropped after then, which made it very difficult for him to make it to the international side. In 2005, he retired from all forms of cricket.