Prasidh Krishna on India's Mental Shift from IPL to Test Cricket

One-off Test: 'We end up playing multiple formats together; we're used to it,' says Prasidh on India's shift to red-ball cricket

New Chandigarh, June 6

Ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Saturday, the pacer said players have become accustomed to moving between formats throughout the year, making the adjustment more mental than technical.

"Very refreshing, honestly, coming down to this beautiful ground. It's all bright and nice. I love the sunshine, so, yeah, it feels refreshing," he told the broadcasters on the sidelines before the toss.

India's players have had little time between the conclusion of the IPL and the start of the Test assignment. While acknowledging the differing demands of red-ball cricket, Prasidh stressed that experience across formats has equipped India's players to adapt quickly as they begin an important phase of their Test calendar.

"It does change a little bit. I think we have played enough cricket now. We always end up playing multiple formats together, so I think we're used to it as well. So it's just about getting your eyes set in and then you think about the game a lot. So I think once it starts in your mind, it gets a lot more easier running that on the ground," he said.

For the Karnataka pacer, the transition is largely a mental exercise. While the mechanics of bowling remain unchanged, the challenge in Test cricket is to maintain discipline over longer spells and resist the urge to force breakthroughs too early.

"It is mostly mental as well because bowling the ball in a particular area, you're always used to doing it. Once you tell your brain that you need to be doing this, you will be able to do it. So it's about being more patient, having that ability to be in a particular area for longer and not really trying too much too early is what the red-ball format needs and it's about adapting mentally," the pacer stated.

Prasidh is expected to play a key role in India's pace attack during a phase of transition for the Test side. Having featured in India's recent Test outings, he said his focus is on carrying forward those standards and helping the team make a strong start to the new red-ball season.

"It's about being very consistent. It's the standard that you set for yourself coming into Test matches having played a few in the last few Test matches that happened for India. It's just about carrying that momentum to the team and then now that we're coming off a different format, it's really important to start well, have your basics set right and then set the standard for yourself going forward," he noted.

— IANS