India Regroups After Test Loss; Krishna Confident in Bowling Attack Despite Bumrah's Limited Role

India is regrouping after a disappointing defeat to England in the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Headingley. The loss puts England ahead 1-0 in the five-match series. Amidst the setback, the management of Jasprit Bumrah's workload has become a key talking point.

Despite the loss, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Bumrah's participation would be limited to three of the five Tests, a decision made before the series began. "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 after the match.

Prasidh Krishna is eager to contribute as India strategizes for upcoming matches.

In Bumrah's absence, fellow pace bowler Prasidh Krishna sees an opportunity to step up. "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. "One thing you cannot get is experience — you have to go through it yourself. And yeah, I think all of us are excited."

He emphasized the team's positive attitude and the experience within the squad. "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 victory was notable, overcoming India's total despite conceding five individual centuries. England chased down a target of 371 runs, with Duckett (149) and Root (53*) leading the charge to a final score of 373/5. India had posted a total of 835 runs in the match, including two centuries from Rishabh Pant, but costly batting collapses hampered their efforts.

Prasidh addressed any concerns about the team's morale. "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 said. He further explained the team's strategy and motivation throughout the match, highlighting their resilience and determination to fight until the end.

Prasidh Focused on Improvement

While Bumrah delivered a strong performance in the first innings, claiming five wickets, the other bowlers faced challenges. Prasidh acknowledged his own performance, stating, "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."

He elaborated on his efforts to improve his economy rate and build pressure on the opposition. "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. And they took me on — some were edges, and some were bouncers I tried that ended up going for runs. But I think someone in the team had to do it."

Prasidh also reflected on his bowling lengths in both innings, identifying areas for improvement.

Praising Captain Gill

Prasidh also commented on Shubman Gill's captaincy, who is leading India in the Test series following Rohit Sharma’s retirement. "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 stated. He further highlighted Gill's communication skills and the team's collaborative approach to the game.