India Eye Series Comeback; Krishna Highlights Team Unity Amid Bumrah's Workload Management

Following a setback in the opening Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England at Headingley, Leeds, the Indian team is now focused on regrouping and strategizing for the remainder of the five-match series. The defeat has sparked discussions about workload management for key players, particularly pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

Despite the loss, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir affirmed the pre-series decision to limit Bumrah to playing in only three of the five Tests. "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.

Prasidh Krishna highlights the team's learning environment and the consistent support from Jasprit Bumrah.

In light of Bumrah's limited availability, fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna sees an opportunity for others to step up and contribute. Speaking to reporters in Birmingham, Prasidh emphasized the positive team culture and the ongoing support from Bumrah, even when he's not on the field.

"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," Prasidh said. He further added, "One thing you cannot get is experience — you have to go through it yourself. And yeah, I think all of us are excited."

He highlighted the presence of experienced players like Siraj and emphasized the opportunity for those coming into the team. "If you look at the team, everybody is here. Siraj has played a lot of games, he's going to continue playing, and whoever comes in — or whatever happens later — it's a great experience and an opportunity. That’s the way we look at it," he added.

Reflecting on the Recent Loss

England's victory in the first Test was historic, marking the first time in over 60,000 first-class matches that a team conceded five individual centuries and still successfully chased down a target exceeding 300 runs. Despite India posting a formidable 835 runs in the match, fueled by two centuries from Rishabh Pant, batting collapses proved detrimental.

Prasidh dismissed any notions of negativity within the dressing room. "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 elaborated on the team's fighting spirit: "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."

Prasidh's Performance and Areas for Improvement

While Bumrah shone with five wickets in the first innings, the other bowlers, including Siraj, Prasidh, and Shardul, faced challenges. Prasidh acknowledged his own performance and identified areas for improvement, particularly his economy rate.

"Yeah, definitely (on economy over 6). I had a few conversations with some of the guys about how this game went. 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," Prasidh said.

He also reflected on his bowling lengths, admitting they weren't perfect, and the challenges posed by the fast outfield. "If I look at the first innings, I was a little shorter than where I wanted to be. Ideally, six to eight meters is what I was aiming for... So yeah, I definitely didn’t bowl the lengths I wanted to," he said.

Prasidh on Gill's Captaincy

With Rohit Sharma's retirement, this series marks Shubman Gill's first as India's Test captain. Prasidh, who has played under Gill at Gujarat Titans, shared his insights on Gill's leadership.

"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. He spotted opportunities and used the right bowlers accordingly," Prasidh observed. "And knowing him, he created a very good atmosphere around the team."

He concluded by highlighting the team's focus on improving their performance, especially the lower-order batsmen. "As lower-order batsmen, we are definitely working on our game... I think it’s also about putting your mind into it — making sure you trust yourself, trust the skill you have, and stay at the crease a little longer. The runs and numbers will then follow. And we are working towards that," Prasidh concluded.