Krishna: India Unfazed by Bumrah Absence, Focus Remains on Learning After Test Defeat vs. England

Following India's defeat in the opening Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England, pacer Prasidh Krishna has expressed confidence in the team's ability to bounce back, even with the limited availability of Jasprit Bumrah.

Prasidh Krishna emphasizes the team's learning culture and the importance of experience in the absence of key players like Jasprit Bumrah.

Bumrah's Workload Management

Despite the loss at Headingley, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir affirmed the pre-series decision to manage Bumrah's workload, limiting him to only three of the five Tests. "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.

In Bumrah's absence, Prasidh Krishna sees an opportunity for other pacers to step up and contribute.

Team Culture and Learning

Prasidh highlighted the positive team culture, emphasizing continuous learning and mutual support. "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."

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 Historic Win

England's victory was remarkable, marking the first instance in over 60,000 first-class matches where a team conceded five individual centuries and still chased down a target exceeding 300. Despite Rishabh Pant scoring two centuries, India's batting collapses proved decisive.

Positive Dressing Room Atmosphere

Prasidh dismissed any concerns about negativity within the 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 asserted.

Areas for Improvement

Acknowledging his own performance, Prasidh aims to improve his economy rate. "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.

Praising Captain Gill

Prasidh also lauded Shubman Gill's captaincy, highlighting his effective bowler rotation and communication. "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."