India vs. England: Krishna Touts Positive Mindset Amid Bumrah Workload Management After Test Loss

Following a setback in the opening Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England at Headingley, Leeds, the Indian team is now focused on regrouping and strategizing for the remainder of the five-match series. Despite the loss, the team remains optimistic, with players stepping up to fill crucial roles.

Prasidh Krishna emphasizes the importance of a positive team environment even with Jasprit Bumrah's limited availability.

Jasprit Bumrah's Workload Management

India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah, a key player in the Indian bowling attack, will participate in only three of the five Tests. This decision was made to manage his workload effectively throughout the series. "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.

Opportunity for Prasidh Krishna

With Bumrah's limited availability, fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna sees this as an opportunity to contribute significantly to the team. He emphasized the positive culture within the team, where players learn from each other regardless of who is 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," Prasidh said. He also acknowledged the importance of experience, stating, "One thing you cannot get is experience — you have to go through it yourself. And yeah, I think all of us are excited."

Prasidh highlighted the depth of the Indian squad, noting that players like Siraj have gained considerable experience and will continue to play crucial roles. "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 Historic Win

England's victory in the first Test was remarkable. They became the first team in over 60,000 first-class matches to successfully chase a target of over 300 runs after conceding five individual centuries. Despite India posting a total of 835 runs, with two centuries from Rishabh Pant, batting collapses proved costly.

Dressing Room Atmosphere

Prasidh dismissed any concerns about negativity within the dressing room. He affirmed that the team remains positive, motivated, and focused on the opportunities ahead. "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 approach, 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's Performance and Learning

While Bumrah shone in the first innings, the other bowlers, including Prasidh, faced challenges. Prasidh acknowledged the need for improvement in his 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. I just want to make sure I put in the right kind of work and come back here with better numbers," Prasidh said.

He also reflected on his bowling lengths, admitting they were not always ideal. "If I look at the first innings, I was a little shorter than where I wanted to be... In the second innings, it got slightly better because the wicket was a bit slower."

Prasidh on Captain Gill

This series marks Shubman Gill's first stint as India's Test captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement. Prasidh, who has played under Gill at Gujarat Titans, praised his captaincy.

"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... And knowing him, he created a very good atmosphere around the team," Prasidh said.

He concluded by highlighting the team's preparation and mindset, stating, "We always go in with a plan, and the communication is happening there... 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. The runs and numbers will then follow. And we are working towards that."