Jasprit Bumrah Injury Scare-Prasidh Krishna's Determination Underlines India's Resilience

In this fifth Test battle at the Sydney Cricket Ground between the Indian cricket team and Australia, a looming injury scare for the star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has heightened the intensity of the battle. Yet the Indian camp was upbeat due to pacer Prasidh Krishna, who made a bold statement against the Australians: "We are ready to bowl them out."

While India has held an overall lead of 145 runs till the end of the second day, being stuck at 141 for six wickets, unpredictability from SCG pitch ensures this is not any one-sided encounter for the tourists. This series has huge meaning because winning means that India wins the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy outright.

Unpredictability of the SCG Double-Edged Sword

Prasidh Krishna believes the variable bounce and inconsistent behavior of the SCG track can turn into India’s ally. "The ball is keeping low at times, but there’s enough bounce to keep us in the hunt. Batting won’t be easy for Australia in the fourth innings, and we’ll look to exploit the edges and dismiss them on either side of the bat," he explained during a media interaction.

The 27-year-old speedster is not talking about having a target for Australia but rather says that they will defend whatever total Indian team can muster. "There's no magic number. The more we score, the better, but we are prepared to bowl them out for any total," he asserted.

Prasidh's Bowling Evolution

Krishna showed enough promise on day two, at least when the Aussie captain, Steve Smith fell. However the bowler claimed to have battled his length that first innings in parts, oscillating between short deliveries and very full ones that are too loose for the short cover boundary at Trent Bridge. During lunch on day two Krishna was advised from the team analyst and things have gone right thereafter. "I reviewed my performance and identified my reference points. That session helped me bowl more effectively in the second spell," he shared.

Prasidh had started his preparation for this series a couple of weeks earlier when he was in Australia well before the senior team. All the matches played for India A and other red-ball games that he played for Duleep Trophy have gone into good use. Talking about his experience, he said, "Bowling in Australian conditions gave me confidence. Although initially, there was a lot of nervousness, conversations with teammates and coaches helped him regain focus and improve."

Bowling coach Morne Morkel has been instrumental in the growth of Krishna. South African legend Morne has acted as a guiding force, coming up with strategic advice and technical adjustments. "Morne and I have had numerous discussions about plans and execution, and his inputs have been incredibly helpful," Prasidh acknowledged.

Krishna's career has been a rollercoaster ride, with highs and setbacks. His comeback to international cricket after a back surgery in New Zealand has been a testament to his resilience. The challenges of adapting to different roles, such as transitioning from opening the bowling for Karnataka with a new SG Test ball to coming in as a one-change bowler with a semi-old Kookaburra for the national team, have broadened his skill set.

"Learning to adapt was the key. As a one-change bowler, my role is to provide control and maintain consistent lines and lengths. This mental shift required a lot of effort and introspection," Prasidh explained.

The Path to Victory

India’s prospects in the Sydney Test rest on their ability to extend their lead and exploit the conditions during Australia’s second innings. While the road ahead is challenging, the team’s collective mindset remains positive. Krishna’s fiery determination, backed by the guidance of experienced mentors and his evolving skill set, symbolizes the Indian team’s resilience.

Further, as India and Australia clash for this closely contested match, this unpredictable SCG pitch coupled with India's spirited bowling will certainly make this a true tussle between the two teams. Whether India scripts another historic victory or Australia can fight back is a question that only time will answer, but one thing is very obvious - the spirit and grit of players like Prasidh Krishna keep them in the hunt.