Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna, who debuted for Team India in the first ODI against England, while talking about the role Australian bowling great Glenn McGrath played in his development said that the first thing he learned from the latter was to remain calm and composed.
Prasidh Krishna’s ODI debut was nothing less than a rollercoaster. He conceded 37 runs in his first 3 overs and then later changed the rough start into a record-breaking one to his international career by picking four wickets. The lanky pacer returned with the figures of 4/54, the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler on his debut.
Glenn McGrath, who finished his Test career with 563 wickets, helped Prasidh Krishna improve his bowling skills at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai in 2017. Later in 2019, he went to Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane in 2019 as part of a players' exchange MoU.
The Karnataka pacer impressed everyone with his performances in IPL and domestic circuit and was rewarded with his maiden ODI-call up for Team India.
Speaking to his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, Prasidh Krishna said that the first thing he learned from McGrath is to stay calm because it is the most important thing as a bowler. He added that apart from being in the present the Australian legend also spoke to him about being consistent.
"The first and foremost thing that I observed was he (Glenn McGrath) was a really calm person and he was never excited or overawed by the situation. He was very composed. So, I think that's the first thing I picked from him because that's the most important aspect for you as a bowler when you are you're playing a game.
“The most important thing is to remain in the present and stay calm. And apart from that, he always spoke about being consistent. So that's the biggest part of it." Prasidh Krishna told KKR website.
Krishna recounted the first call he received that confirmed his selection for the foundation. He further talked about the competition at the camp among the 15-20 chosen fast bowlers and even called it the best place to learn.
"I was playing one of the university games and I got a call saying, you've been picked. So, I was excited to go there. I had a kind of a challenge then when we started bowling as well. We knew we were the best in the country, like the 15-20 of us. So there came a challenge between us and there was no better place for you to learn," he said.
Krishna while talking about his bowling speed said that his love for speed was acquired by MotoGP sensation Valentino Rossi.
"I had followed him a lot. Maybe that's where the speed factor came in because I was, you know, seeing him go so fast. It's so much of speed. So that's where my liking for speed came into existence," he said.
The 25-years-old lanky pacer said that his school coach, Srinivas Murthy, corrected his running technique and angle of his running which resulted in him being a quicker and a better bowler.
"I was tall and I was getting the ball to move back. So, he's ( his school coach, Srinivas Murthy) the one who first corrected my running technique, the angle of my running, my loading, and all of that. By doing all this, I also realized I was getting quicker and better. I was getting sharper with things," said Prasidh Krishna.
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Krishna while talking about his first season with KKR in 2018, said that he was on the back of a good Vijay Hazare Trophy and he came with a lot of confidence and never felt like a newcomer. He added that in the IPL 2021 he will take one game at a time and wants to live in present.
"I had a really good tournament before coming into the KKR nets (in 2018). I had a really good Vijay Hazare Trophy, we won the tournament. So, I was coming in with a lot of confidence. I never felt like a newcomer.
“I will be focusing on just being there in the present, living in present. Just want to be calm under pressure and take it one game at a time,” he concluded.
(KKR inputs)
