England vs India, 2021: India Bowling Coach Bharat Arun Reveals Why Prasidh Krishna Is Added To The Test Squad

Bharat Arun, India‘s bowling coach, stated that Prasidh Krishna has been added to the squad for the fourth Test as “just a precautionary” measure. A day before the Oval Test gets underway, Krishna, a standby bowler, was included in the main squad. The BCCI said the speedster’s inclusion was made “based on the request of the team management”.

Now, Bharat Arun has made it clear that there are no injuries amongst the pacer and the decision to add Krishna is because of the “workload management issues” of other pacers.

Krishna has been with the Indian contingent as a standby player or a reserve player since the start of the tour in June. The only other player remaining on the standby list is Gujarat’s Arzan Nagwaswalla; Avesh Khan had earlier been ruled out of the series due to an injury.

“He (Prasidh Krishna) has been mainly because of the workload management issues. He has been included in the squad. There is nothing more to it than that. Ishant’s form is a bit of concern but I think we have things sorted out. Prasidh Krishna is just a precautionary inclusion,” Bharat Arun told the press on Wednesday.

Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah both have played all the 3 Tests while Mohammed Siraj has played in the last two. It was Ishant Sharma who was off-colour at Headingley – he was down on pace, slow in his run-up, and didn’t look menacing at all with the ball.

Ishant went wicketless for 22 overs while leaking away 92 runs. It felt that the lanky seamer was not completely fit, but India captain Virat Kohli, after the match, quashed such claims.

Krishna was impressive in his ODI debut, earlier in March, during the ODI series against England in Pune. He remains, although, down in the pecking order than Shardul Thakur and Umesh Yadav.

I don’t think we should look too far ahead: Bharat Arun

With the long T20 season ahead – the second half of the IPL 2021 followed by the T20 World Cup – it’s imperative that the management puts heed in the workload of their players, especially the pacers.

Bharat Arun, however, said they are looking at the toll on the pacers considering only the ongoing Test series, which stands level at 1-1 after three Tests and two to go.

“To be really honest, we are looking at the workload of our fast bowlers, the availability of them in this series. I don’t think we should look too far ahead. I think we are looking at the kind of fresh legs that are available for us. It is being looked at purely from this series and not further,” the bowling coach affirmed. 

Meanwhile, England have gained a boost in the form of Chris Woakes and Mark Wood fit and available. Moeen Ali has been named as the vice-captain for the Oval Test in absence of Jos Buttler, who is unavailable due to the expected birth of his second child.

Also Read: India vs England 2021: I Don’t Think Cheteshwar Pujara Needs Advice From Other People; He Has Played 80 Plus Tests – Ajit Agarkar