India Looks to Bounce Back Against England; Prasidh Krishna Backs Team's Depth Amid Bumrah Absence

Following a setback in the opening Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England at Headingley, Leeds, the Indian team is recalibrating its strategy. England's victory has given them a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, intensifying the focus on managing the workload of key players, particularly pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

Prasidh Krishna and Jasprit Bumrah discuss bowling strategies.

Despite the loss, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir had affirmed before the series that Bumrah would participate in only three of the five Tests. "We need to manage his workload. The scoreline doesn’t change that… he will play three Tests only," Gambhir stated, emphasizing the pre-determined plan.

In Bumrah’s absence, fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna views it as an opportunity for others to step up and contribute.

"We are learning from each other, no matter who's there or who's around," Prasidh Krishna told reporters in Birmingham, highlighting the team's supportive environment. "With Booms (Bumrah) around, he's been talking to all of us throughout, even before coming here... 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 collective spirit, noting that even with senior players missing, the team sees it as a chance to grow. "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."

Reflecting on the Previous Match

England's recent win was a remarkable feat in cricket history. Despite conceding five individual centuries, they successfully chased down a target exceeding 300 runs. England achieved 373/5, with notable performances from Duckett (149) and Root (53*), after India posted a total of 835 runs in the match, including two centuries from Rishabh Pant. However, batting collapses proved to be detrimental.

Dismissing any concerns about internal issues, Prasidh asserted the team's positive mindset. "The dressing room is still positive, happy, and very, very motivated... even in the game today, we might have looked quiet at times, but I think we still had a plan."

Addressing Performance and Areas for Improvement

While Jasprit Bumrah shone with five wickets in the first innings, the supporting bowlers, including Siraj and Prasidh, faced challenges. Prasidh acknowledged his performance, admitting to a lack of consistency and higher economy.

"I definitely want to bring that number down — to the best I can. And I think I’m learning as well... 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 commented, focusing on his commitment to improvement.

He elaborated on his bowling strategy, emphasizing the intention to build pressure and minimize boundaries, even if it means taking risks to secure wickets.

Prasidh on Captain Gill

With Rohit Sharma's retirement, this England series marks Shubman Gill's debut as India's Test captain. Prasidh shared his observations from playing under Gill at Gujarat Titans.

"About Shubman — yeah, I think he did a pretty good job... He spotted opportunities and used the right bowlers accordingly... And knowing him, he created a very good atmosphere around the team," Prasidh said. He also added, "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."