Bapu Krishnarao Venkatesh Prasad is a former Indian cricketer who represented the Indian national team primarily as a right-arm fast-medium bowler during the 1990s. Known for his accuracy, ability to swing the ball, and effective use of the slower delivery, he formed a notable new-ball pairing with Javagal Srinath, his Karnataka teammate, for India during much of his international career.
| Full name | Bapu Krishnarao Venkatesh Prasad |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 August 1969, Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Role | Bowler (right-arm fast-medium) |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Test debut | 1996, vs England at Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| ODI debut | 1994, vs New Zealand |
| Domestic team | Karnataka |
| Height | Tall, an attribute he used for bounce |
| Post-playing roles | India bowling coach; selector |
Venkatesh Prasad was born and raised in Bangalore, Karnataka. He came through the strong Karnataka domestic cricket structure, which during his era produced several India internationals including Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Rahul Dravid. Prasad made his first-class debut for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy and earned his India selection on the basis of consistent domestic performances.
Prasad made his One Day International debut in 1994 against New Zealand. He earned his Test cap in 1996 during India's tour of England, where he made an immediate impression with his swing and seam movement, picking up a five-wicket haul at Lord's.
Prasad gained wide recognition during the 1996 Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. His quarter-final spell against Pakistan in Bangalore is among the most remembered passages of Indo-Pakistan cricket. After being struck for a boundary by Aamir Sohail, Prasad bowled him the very next ball, an incident that became iconic in the rivalry.
Through the late 1990s, Prasad was a regular member of India's bowling attack across formats. He was a key wicket-taker on subcontinental pitches, where his ability to reverse swing the older ball and bowl tight lines complemented Srinath's pace. He also played a significant role in the 1998 Independence Cup and several bilateral series in this period.
Prasad continued to play for India into the early 2000s before being phased out as a younger generation of fast bowlers, including Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra, came through. His last international appearances came in 2001.
Prasad was not an express pace bowler, but he was effective due to:
After retiring from competitive cricket, Prasad moved into coaching and administrative roles: