India Eyes Series Rebound; Prasidh Krishna Confident Despite Bumrah's Workload Management in England Tests

Following a disappointing defeat in the opening Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Headingley, Leeds, the Indian team is focused on regrouping and leveling the five-match series against England. A key topic of discussion has been the workload management of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

Despite the loss, India head coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that Bumrah will only participate in three of the five Tests, a decision that was predetermined before the series commenced.

"We 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 after the match.

With Bumrah's appearances limited, fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna sees this as an opportunity to step up and contribute to the team's success.

Prasidh Krishna and Jasprit Bumrah share insights 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. At least for me, I've been part of this team for a few years now, so the conversations are still going on," Prasidh told reporters in Birmingham. "One thing you cannot get is experience — you have to go through it yourself. And yeah, I think all of us are excited."

He further emphasized the positive atmosphere within the team and the collective effort to seize 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 victory in the first Test was remarkable, overcoming a significant runs deficit. Despite India posting 835 runs in the match, including two centuries from Rishabh Pant, batting collapses proved detrimental.

Prasidh also addressed any concerns about dressing room morale, asserting its positivity and motivation.

"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 said.

He elaborated on the team's unwavering belief and determination throughout the match.

"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. And then, you know, as a bowling unit, when something's happening, we still ended up taking the new ball... We made sure that until the last run was scored, we were still fighting and making them work hard for it," he added.

Prasidh Aims for Improvement

While Bumrah shone with five wickets in the first innings, the supporting bowlers, including Siraj, Prasidh, and Shardul, faced challenges. Prasidh acknowledged his own performance and expressed his commitment to improvement.

"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 stated.

He further explained his approach to bowling and his focus on building pressure.

"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," the pacer added.

Reflecting on his bowling lengths, he admitted they were not ideal.

"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 Praises Captain Gill

This England series marks Shubman Gill's first stint as India's Test captain. Prasidh, having played under Gill at Gujarat Titans, commended his 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 noted.

He also highlighted the team's preparation and focus on improving their skills.

"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," Prasidh concluded.