Prasidh Krishna Targets Improved Bowling Lengths and Economy Rate After Admitting Concerns

Prasidh Krishna is focusing on improving his bowling lengths and reducing his economy rate after acknowledging concerns in these areas.

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

Despite playing only four Tests, Krishna's economy rate of 5.07 across 90 overs is a key area he wants to address.

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

Krishna stated, "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."

He further explained his approach, "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."

"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," Krishna added, emphasizing his commitment to improvement.

An analysis of his bowling lengths reveals that Krishna bowled 104 out of 211 balls short of a good length during the Test, which is unusual for Headingley. While this strategy earned him three wickets, it also resulted in a high concession rate of 7.54. Krishna attributed this to his hesitation 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 acknowledged the need to adapt and learn quickly, especially with Jasprit Bumrah expected to miss at least two of the remaining four Tests due to workload management. This places greater responsibility on Krishna, 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."

Beyond his bowling, Krishna is also expected to contribute more with the bat, particularly after India's batting collapses at Headingley. The lower-order batsmen have been working diligently in the nets, and Krishna recognizes the importance of valuing his wicket.

"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."