India vs. England Test Series: Krishna on Bumrah's Absence, Team's Resolve After Headingley Defeat

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

Despite the setback, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Bumrah's participation would be limited to three of the five Tests, a plan established before the series commenced. "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.

With Bumrah set to miss some games, fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna views this as an opportunity for others to step up and showcase their abilities.

"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 told reporters in Birmingham. He highlighted the team's supportive environment and the continuous learning process among the players. "One thing you cannot get is experience — you have to go through it yourself. And yeah, I think all of us are excited."

Prasidh emphasized the depth within the team and the positive attitude towards opportunities. "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.

England's recent victory was remarkable, 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. Despite India's impressive total of 835 runs in the match, fueled by two centuries from Rishabh Pant, batting collapses proved detrimental.

Addressing concerns about the team's morale, Prasidh dismissed any issues 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, stating, "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 Aims to Improve

While Bumrah demonstrated his prowess by taking five wickets in the first innings, the supporting bowlers, including Siraj, Prasidh, and Shardul, faced challenges. Prasidh, in particular, acknowledged the need for improvement in his consistency and economy.

Reflecting on his performance, Prasidh admitted, "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."

He also discussed his strategies while bowling: "Every time I come out to bowl, I’m definitely looking to bowl a maiden. I’m not really trying to give away boundaries or anything... But yes, every time I bowl, I’m looking to keep the economy rate down and build pressure."

Analyzing his lengths, Prasidh noted, "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."

Prasidh Praises Captain Gill

This series marks Shubman Gill’s debut as India’s Test captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement. Prasidh, who has previously played under Gill at Gujarat Titans, shared his observations 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. All of that was great. And knowing him, he created a very good atmosphere around the team," Prasidh remarked.

He concluded by highlighting the team's collaborative approach and commitment to improvement: "He's been speaking to all of us. We always go in with a plan, and the communication is happening there... The runs and numbers will then follow. And we are working towards that."