Prasidh Krishna Vows to Sharpen Bowling After Headingley Setback: Focus on Length and Economy

Prasidh Krishna, the Indian bowler, is determined to improve his economy rate and bowl better lengths in future matches. He acknowledges his responsibility to perform better after a less-than-ideal outing.

Prasidh Krishna looks to bounce back after a tough match in Leeds © Getty

Despite having played only four Tests, Krishna's economy rate of 5.07 across 90 overs has become a focal point. He is actively working to lower this number.

Headingley Defeat: A Turning Point

The recent defeat at Headingley highlighted the issue, with Krishna conceding 6.28 runs per over and Shardul Thakur 5.56. Their inability to maintain pressure as change bowlers exacerbated India's challenges, especially after Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj's spells concluded.

Krishna explained, "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. 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."

Prioritizing Wickets Over Economy

Krishna emphasized his willingness to prioritize wickets even if it means conceding runs. "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."

He further stated, "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."

Addressing Length Concerns

Krishna acknowledged issues with his bowling lengths. In the Headingley Test, he bowled 104 of his 211 balls short of a good length (6-8 meter mark), a length known to be effective on that ground. While this approach earned him three wickets, it also resulted in an economy of 7.54. He attributed this to his reluctance to bowl fuller deliveries that could be easily driven.

"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," Krishna elaborated.

He admitted, "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."

Stepping Up in Bumrah's Absence

With Jasprit Bumrah expected to miss at least two of the remaining four Tests due to workload management, Krishna is poised to take on greater responsibility within the team, both offensively and defensively.

"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."

Contributing with the Bat

Beyond his bowling duties, Krishna is also expected to contribute more with the bat, especially after India's batting collapses at Headingley. The lower-order batsmen have been working hard in the nets, and Krishna is focused on valuing his wicket more.

"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."