Krishna Backs India's Positive Mindset Despite Bumrah's Limited Role in England Series

Following a setback in the opening Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England at Headingley, Leeds, the Indian team is focused on regrouping. England currently leads the five-match series 1-0. A key point of discussion is the strategic management of Jasprit Bumrah's workload.

Despite the recent defeat, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that Bumrah will participate in only three of the five Tests, a decision made prior to the series. "We need to manage his workload. The scoreline doesn’t change that," Gambhir stated, emphasizing the importance of player management.

Jasprit Bumrah seen preparing intensely for the 2nd Test against England.

In light of Bumrah's limited availability, fellow pace bowler Prasidh Krishna views this as a significant opportunity.

"We are learning from each other, no matter who's there or who's around," Prasidh said, highlighting the team's positive 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."

"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, underscoring the team's depth and positive attitude.

England's recent victory was remarkable, marking the first instance in over 60,000 first-class matches where a team conceded five individual centuries and still successfully chased a target exceeding 300 runs. Despite India posting a total of 835 runs, including two centuries from Rishabh Pant, batting collapses proved detrimental.

Prasidh dismissed any notions of disharmony within the team's ranks.

"The dressing room is still positive, happy, and very, very motivated," he asserted. "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."

Prasidh Krishna and Jasprit Bumrah share insights during practice.

'I'm Learning': Prasidh Krishna

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

"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," Prasidh stated.

He further explained his approach to bowling, emphasizing the importance of building pressure and taking wickets, even if it means conceding runs at times. He also reflected on his lengths and lines, acknowledging that they were not always perfect.

Prasidh on Captain Gill

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

"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," Prasidh noted. "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 concluded by emphasizing the team's focus on improving their lower-order batting and trusting their skills.