Prasidh Krishna Vows to Sharpen Bowling Accuracy After Expensive Spell

Prasidh Krishna, with only four Tests under his belt, is already focused on addressing a specific area of his game: his economy rate. After conceding runs at an average of 5.07 per over across 90 overs in the format, the bowler is determined to improve his figures.

After an expensive outing in Leeds, the 29-year-old Prasidh Krishna is keen to make amends © Getty

The Headingley defeat highlighted this concern, with Krishna conceding 6.28 runs per over and Shardul Thakur 5.56. Their inability to maintain pressure as change bowlers exacerbated India's struggles after the initial spells from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

Krishna acknowledged the need for improvement. "Every time I come into bowl, I'm definitely looking to bowl a maiden and I'm not really trying to give away boundaries or anything," he stated. He attributed his performance at Headingley to a fast outfield and imperfect lengths and lines. "The outfield [at Headingley] was fast, the lengths, lines that I bowled were not perfect to be honest at most times, and they took me on. Some of them were edges, some of them I tried bowling bouncers, I ended up giving runs."

He further explained his mindset: "So I think somebody in the team had to do it, and if I sit back and say, 'I want to look at my numbers, what my economy is,' and not really look at the wickets, it cost me a 4 and a 6, and then Jamie Smith got out, so if it means that I do that and get a wicket, I'm happy to do it, but definitely every time I come on to the bowl, I am looking to keep the economy down and build the pressure up."

Krishna emphasized his commitment to improvement, revealing conversations with teammates about his game. "I had a few conversations with a few of them about this game. I definitely would want to bring that [economy] down to whatever best I can do, and yeah, I think I'm learning as well, I can't say anything, it's up to me, it's my responsibility to get better, and that's what I'm trying, that's what I'm working on, and I just want to make sure I put in the right kind of work and come back here and put up better numbers."

The bowler's lengths were a key factor. At Headingley, a ground known for favoring bowlers who hit the good length area (6-8 metres), Krishna bowled short more often than usual – 104 of his 211 balls. While this strategy earned him three wickets, it also proved expensive, with a concession rate of 7.54 runs per over. Krishna explained that his reluctance to bowl fuller stemmed from a desire to avoid being driven easily.

"No, I think if I look at the first innings, I was a little too short than where I wanted to be, that 6 to 8 [metre length] is ideal. Yeah, that's what I would say. I think the second innings got slightly better because again, the wicket was slightly slower. I had to pitch a few slightly behind it and then go slightly fuller when I'm trying to get a wicket."

He took full responsibility for his shortcomings. "So yeah, I definitely did not bowl the lengths that I wanted. Yeah, I think so... not wanting to float it up there is definitely one of the reasons, and also, it honestly took me some time to get used to the slope, that's why, yeah, no reasons why I shouldn't be able to do it as a professional, but I take complete responsibility about it, and maybe I'll do it better next time."

With Jasprit Bumrah expected to miss at least two of the remaining four Tests due to workload management, Krishna's role becomes even more crucial. This presents both an opportunity and a challenge for the young bowler.

"What the culture that we guys have created is we are learning off each other, no matter who's there, who's around. He's [Bumrah] been talking to all of us all though, even before coming here."

"At least for me, I've been part of this team for a few years now, so the conversations are still going on. One thing you cannot get is experience, that you have to do it yourself, and yeah, I think all of us are excited. If you look at the team, everybody is here, Siraj has played a lot of games, he's going to continue playing, and then whoever comes in, or whatever happens later, it's a great experience, and it's an opportunity for us to be here."

Beyond his bowling responsibilities, Krishna is also expected to contribute more with the bat, especially after India's batting collapses at Headingley. The lower-order batsmen have been diligently practicing in the nets.

"As the lower order batsmen, we definitely are working on it... if you look at our nets session, we are putting in the work, I think it is about putting your mind in there as well, making sure you trust yourself, trust the skill that you have, and be there at the crease for a little longer, and then the numbers and the runs are going to show, and we are working towards it."