Prasidh Krishna Takes Accountability for Bowling Performance in First Test Against England

In a candid press conference, Indian fast bowler Prasidh Krishna took full responsibility for his disappointing performance in the first Test against England. Despite facing criticism for conceding over 200 runs, he expressed his commitment to improving and maintaining a positive mindset within the team. Krishna discussed the challenges posed by weather conditions and his focus on bowling economically. He remains optimistic about the team's morale and is determined to enhance his performance in future matches. Read on to discover more about his insights and reflections on the game.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 28, 2025, 23:20 IST

Prasidh Krishna Reflects on His Bowling Performance

India's fast bowler Prasidh Krishna has openly accepted responsibility for his disappointing performance during the first Test against England, where he struggled to maintain the right lengths. Despite the challenges, he emphasized his intent to bowl economically.

Following India's five-wicket loss at Leeds, Krishna faced criticism from former players after conceding over 200 runs in the match.

Reflecting on his first innings, Krishna noted, "I was a bit shorter than I aimed for; ideally, I should be around 6-8. In the second innings, I improved slightly, but I still needed to adjust my lengths to get wickets. I acknowledge that I didn't bowl as I should have. It took time to adapt to the slope, but as a professional, I must do better. I take full responsibility and aim to improve next time."

In his first innings, Krishna's figures were concerning, allowing 128 runs in 20 overs with an economy rate of 6.40, marking one of the poorest performances by an Indian bowler with a minimum of 20 overs bowled. Nonetheless, he managed to claim the wickets of Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, and Jamie Smith.

During the second innings, he provided a glimmer of hope for India by taking the wickets of Zak Crawley and Pope in quick succession, although his economy rate remained high at 6.10, giving away 92 runs in 15 overs.

"Every time I bowl, my goal is to deliver a maiden over. I try to avoid giving away boundaries. The outfield was quick, and my lengths and lines were not ideal, which allowed the batsmen to capitalize. Some runs came from edges, and despite my attempts at bouncers, I ended up conceding runs. My focus is always on maintaining a low economy rate and building pressure," he explained.

Impact of Weather Conditions

The windy and cold conditions at Headingley posed additional challenges for the players. Occasional rain and drizzle further complicated matters.

Krishna commented, "Running in hard is tough with the wind being inconsistent. It's crucial to gauge the pace of the run-up. The ball often became wet upon hitting the ground, which affects its hardness and shine. This impacted our ability to swing the ball. We aimed to bowl in the right areas, but the wetness of the ball made it softer, affecting our grip and the purchase we could get from the pitch."

Team Morale Remains High

Despite the loss, the 29-year-old expressed that the Indian dressing room remains upbeat and motivated.

"The atmosphere in the dressing room is positive and encouraging. We understood the significance of this opportunity," he stated.

He added that the bowling unit maintained their belief until the end, saying, "We took the new ball when they needed about 20 runs, hoping for a breakthrough. We were determined to make them work hard for every run."

While some former players criticized his performance, Krishna received support from head coach Gautam Gambhir.

"It's my duty to improve, and I'm committed to working hard to achieve better results in the future," Krishna concluded.