India Eyes Series Turnaround: Prasidh Krishna on Bumrah's Absence, Team's Positive Mindset After Test Loss to England

Following a setback in the opening Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England at Headingley, Leeds, the Indian team is focused on regrouping and strategizing for the remainder of the five-match series. Despite the loss, the team's morale remains high, and Jasprit Bumrah's workload management remains a key consideration.

Prasidh Krishna and Jasprit Bumrah in discussion.

Bumrah's Strategic Play

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that Bumrah will participate in only three of the five Tests, a decision finalized prior to the series commencement. "Haven’t decided which two matches Bumrah will play, but he will play a total of three. We need to manage his workload. The scoreline doesn’t change that… he will play three Tests only," Gambhir stated, emphasizing the importance of long-term player management.

Prasidh Krishna Steps Up

In Bumrah's absence, fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna sees this as an opportunity to showcase his abilities and contribute to the team's success.

"What a culture we guys have created. We are learning from each other, no matter who's there or who's around. And with Booms (Bumrah) around, he's been talking to all of us throughout, even before coming here. At least for me, I've been part of this team for a few years now, so the conversations are still going on. One thing you cannot get is experience — you have to go through it yourself. And yeah, I think all of us are excited," Prasidh told reporters in Birmingham, highlighting the team's collaborative spirit.

Jasprit Bumrah prepares for the second Test.

Team Dynamics and Positivity

Prasidh emphasized the positive atmosphere within the team despite the recent defeat. "The dressing room is still positive, happy, and very, very motivated. Like I said, we came here knowing what this opportunity meant for all of us. And even in the game today, we might have looked quiet at times, but I think we still had a plan," he explained.

He further added, "We wanted to do something, and we went about doing it — we got two wickets in a cluster, twice. So that kept the motivation going... We made sure that until the last run was scored, we were still fighting and making them work hard for it."

Personal Reflection and Improvement

Reflecting on his own performance, Prasidh acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in his economy rate. "I definitely want to bring that number down — to the best I can. And I think I’m learning as well. It’s on me — I can’t say anything else. It’s my responsibility to get better, and that’s what I’m trying. That’s what I’m working on. I just want to make sure I put in the right kind of work and come back here with better numbers," he stated.

Prasidh Praises Captain Gill

Prasidh also shared his thoughts on Shubman Gill's captaincy, noting his effective leadership during the series. "About Shubman — yeah, I think he did a pretty good job. All of us saw how he rotated the bowlers, made sure everyone got enough breaks, and brought bowlers in at the right times... And knowing him, he created a very good atmosphere around the team," Prasidh said, highlighting Gill's tactical acumen and team management skills.

Prasidh concluded by emphasizing the team's commitment to improvement and their focus on executing their plans effectively.