Trisha Ghosal in London
“Yeah, that was the plan” – Krishna confirms attempt to provoke Root
Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna revealed that the verbal exchange with Joe Root wasn’t accidental. Asked about the rare show of emotion from the usually composed English batter, Krishna said the plan was indeed to rattle him.
“Yeah, that was the plan, to try and get him to react a bit,” he admitted. “But I didn’t really expect a couple of words to get such a strong response from him. He’s a legend of the game. And when two people are both out there trying to win, it adds to the contest.”
Krishna also downplayed the incident, calling it “a bit of banter” between “good mates off the field”.
Post-lunch revival sparked by fast bowlers’ huddle
The shift in India’s bowling intensity after lunch was no accident either. Krishna detailed a brief meeting among the three pacers at the break that changed the momentum.
“We got together in a corner and said, ‘What’s done is done,’” Krishna said. “We agreed to trust each other, talk if someone’s off track, and show some body language. That made a big difference.”
“I know my role—with or without Bumrah”
Asked whether the uncertainty around Jasprit Bumrah’s selection has impacted his rhythm, Krishna was unequivocal: “Not at all, sir.”
He added, “We bowlers know our roles. When Bumrah plays, we know what he brings. When he doesn’t, the rest of us step up.”
“Criticism is okay—my job is to do what the team asks”
After following team instructions to bowl short in the first two Tests, Krishna found himself dropped for the next two. He insisted he holds no resentment.
“If I’m being picked, it’s because the team trusts me to do the job,” he said. “If not playing helps me improve my skill by 5–10%, I’ll take that. For me, it’s not just about performance—it’s about process.”
On pitch, conditions and the English chase
Krishna acknowledged that wet conditions made it difficult at times, but insisted the team has adapted well after five Tests and 20-plus days of play.
Looking ahead, he wasn’t willing to speculate too much about England’s chase: “There are three days left. We’ll bat as long as we can and be ready to bowl when the time comes.”
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