India vs England: Prasidh Krishna Upbeat Despite Bumrah Absence, Focus on Team Culture After Test Defeat

Following a setback in the opening Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England at Headingley, Leeds, the Indian team is focused on regrouping and maintaining a positive outlook. Despite England taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, the team's morale remains high, and players are eager to seize opportunities.

Prasidh Krishna emphasizing the positive team environment fostered by the presence and guidance of senior players like Jasprit Bumrah.

Jasprit Bumrah's workload management is a key consideration for the Indian team. Head coach Gautam Gambhir had previously stated that Bumrah would participate in only three of the five Tests, a decision reaffirmed even after the first Test defeat. "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.

With Bumrah's limited availability, Prasidh Krishna sees this as a chance to step up and contribute. He emphasized the team's supportive environment and the continuous learning process among players.

"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 further added, "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."

England's victory in the first Test was remarkable, overcoming the unusual statistic of conceding five individual centuries and successfully chasing a target of over 300 runs. Despite India posting a total of 835 runs in the match, including two centuries from Rishabh Pant, batting collapses proved detrimental.

Prasidh dismissed any concerns about disharmony within the team's 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.

Addressing Performance and Learning from Experience

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, admitting a lack of consistency.

"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 also elaborated on his strategy 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. The outfield was fast. The lengths and lines I bowled weren’t perfect, to be honest, most of the time."

Prasidh Praises Captain Gill's Leadership

This series marks Shubman Gill's first as India's Test captain following Rohit Sharma's retirement. Prasidh, who has played under Gill at Gujarat Titans, commended his leadership abilities.

"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 concluded. He also highlighted the team's focus on improving their lower-order batting and the collective effort to stay positive and trust their skills.