New Delhi, 25 September (H.S.):

AThe Indian cricket team will begin a long and important home season on September 27 with a three-match ODI series against the West Indies. Alongside preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, the team is also looking to prepare itself for the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia.

Ahead of the home season, Indian fast bowler Prasidh Krishna spoke to JioStar about his return from injury, the challenge of a five-Test series, the need for consistent performances in different conditions, and his preparations for the 2027 World Cup.

On returning from injury, Prasidh said, “Being injured and unable to be part of ongoing cricket is difficult for anyone. The rehabilitation process is challenging because you have to keep doing the same things repeatedly. In such a situation, the role of the team and the sports science staff becomes very important. The people around you also matter a lot, so it is important to have good people such as family and friends by your side.

“Beyond that, it depends on how determined you are to do things the way you want. It is easy to say that I was injured, could not do anything and that it would take time to make a comeback. But it is also important to get back up with mental strength and start again. I always tell myself that if I was at a certain level when I got injured, then after returning I should be ten times better than I was before. That mindset is very important.”

Speaking about the New Zealand tour, Prasidh said, “New Zealand will be a completely different challenge. Playing there is fantastic, but as a bowler, it tests you in every way—your skills, your endurance and your ability to come back consistently from one session to the next. For now, our focus is on getting the basics right.

“Once we get there, we will understand the conditions and adapt accordingly. Our aim is to prepare ourselves with every kind of skill so that, once we arrive, we can use them according to the conditions. As fast bowlers, we will certainly be tested. Compared to the subcontinent, you are expected to do much more work in New Zealand, and I am looking forward to that challenge.”

Speaking about the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in 2027, Prasidh said, “I have played two five-Test series before—one in Australia and one in England. I learned a lot from those experiences. Maintaining rhythm and sustaining your pace over five matches and 25 days of cricket is a completely different challenge.

“The team is already preparing for that challenge. All the players are in good shape and have the right mindset to take it on. We all know how important this series is in the WTC cycle, so I am eagerly looking forward to it.”

Speaking about cementing his place in the Indian Test team, Prasidh said, “For me, it is about the ability to adapt and perform regardless of the conditions. Wherever you play, you have to run in and give everything you have while bowling. It is also important to understand your bowling partners. Just as there are partnerships in batting, there are partnerships in bowling too. Supporting each other and performing according to the team’s requirements is essential.”

Speaking about the 2027 ODI World Cup, Prasidh said, “The ODI format is quite interesting and, in my view, it is the most difficult format because you have to adapt yourself between different phases of the game. For a bowler who has to bowl in all three phases, the powerplay has made it even more challenging. But that is the challenge. The more difficult things are, the fewer people are able to do them well. I am looking forward to that challenge.

“ODI cricket is exciting, and a World Cup in South Africa will be particularly exciting for fast bowlers. Scores of 300 and 350 are increasingly becoming normal. But as bowlers, our challenge is to prevent the opposition from scoring as many runs as possible and to execute our plans with different strategies.”

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar