India tasted defeat in their first Test against England at Headingley, handing the hosts a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Despite the loss, attention remains firmly on the availability of India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir had already confirmed prior to the series that Bumrah would feature in only three of the five Tests.
“We haven’t decided which two matches Bumrah will miss, but he will play a total of three. We need to manage his workload. The scoreline doesn’t change that… he will play only three Tests,” Gambhir stated before the team departed for the UK.
In Bumrah’s absence, emerging pacer Prasidh Krishna sees this as an opportunity to gain valuable experience — whether or not Bumrah is in the XI.
“What a culture we have created. We are learning from each other, no matter who is present. And with Booms (Bumrah) around, he’s been talking to all of us throughout, even before we arrived. At least for me, having been part of this team for a few years now, those conversations are still ongoing. One thing you can’t be given is experience — you have to go through it yourself. And yes, I think we’re all excited,” Prasidh told reporters in Birmingham.
He also highlighted the significance of Mohammed Siraj’s presence in the bowling attack.
“If you look at the team, everyone is here. Siraj has played a lot of games and will continue to do so. Whoever comes in — or whatever happens next — it’s a great experience and an opportunity. That’s the way we see it,” he added.
While Bumrah delivered a stellar performance, claiming five wickets in the first innings, fellow pacers Siraj, Prasidh, and Shardul Thakur struggled to make an impact. Prasidh, in particular, was expensive and lacked consistency.
He took three wickets in the first innings but conceded 128 runs in 20 overs at an economy rate of 6.40. In the second innings, he picked up two more wickets but gave away 92 runs in 15 overs, with an economy of 6.10.
Reflecting on his performance, Prasidh said, “If I look at the first innings, I was a little shorter than where I wanted to be. Ideally, I was aiming for a six to eight metre length — that’s what I would say. In the second innings, it was slightly better because the wicket was a bit slower. I had to pitch a few deliveries slightly behind the ideal spot and then go fuller when trying to take a wicket. So yes, I definitely didn’t hit the lengths I wanted to.”
Despite the poor outing, Prasidh is determined to learn from the experience and come back stronger in the second Test at Edgbaston.
“I had a few conversations with some of the guys about how this game went. I definitely want to bring those numbers down — as much as I can. And I think I’m learning as well. It’s on me — I can’t make excuses. It’s my responsibility to improve, and that’s what I’m working on. I just want to ensure I put in the right kind of work and return with better numbers,” he concluded.