Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna says the shift from IPL to Test cricket is no longer a daunting challenge for India's players, describing the format transition as primarily a mental adjustment rather than a technical one. Speaking ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Saturday, 7 June, the Karnataka pacer expressed confidence in India's ability to switch gears quickly.

A Refreshing Change of Scene

Prasidh arrived at the Mullanpur ground in high spirits, describing the setting as a welcome contrast to the T20 circuit. '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 said on the sidelines ahead of the toss.

India's players had minimal time between the conclusion of the IPL and the start of this Test assignment, yet Prasidh suggested that modern cricketers have grown accustomed to such compressed transitions.

Why the Transition Is Mostly Mental

'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,' the pacer explained.

Prasidh was emphatic that the mechanical side of bowling remains largely unchanged across formats. The real discipline, he noted, lies in resisting the instinct to force results too early — a habit that the high-intensity T20 format can ingrain.

'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,' he stated.

Setting Standards for the New Test Cycle

The Afghanistan Test marks the beginning of an important phase in India's red-ball calendar. Prasidh, who has featured in India's recent Test outings, said his focus is on maintaining the standards he has set and helping the team begin the new cycle on a strong note.

'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.

Prasidh's Role in India's Pace Attack

The Karnataka pacer is expected to shoulder significant responsibility in India's pace unit during what is widely viewed as a transitional phase for the Test side. Notably, this one-off Test also provides an opportunity for fringe players to press their case ahead of a demanding Test schedule. The match at Mullanpur is the first red-ball fixture of the Indian summer and sets the tone for the team's white-to-red transition.