The Indian fast bowler opened up about the physical toll, emotional highs, and behind-the-scenes moments that made the summer in England truly \u201cunforgettable.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 28-year-old was one of India\u2019s standout performers in the deciding Test at The Oval, where he bowled 43 overs for match figures of 8 for 188 to help script a six-run victory. Looking back, Prasidh admitted the workload left him drained.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Physically, it took a lot out of me,\u201d he said. \u201cIt took me about a week to shake it off. Then I came back, played a few games in the Maharaja Trophy. It felt good to go back to my state, be with my statemates, chat with the youngsters, and just get that feeling of being back in cricket again,\" Prasid told ESPNCricinfo.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Before returning to training in Bengaluru, Prasidh allowed himself some time off. \u201cI did take a week to ten days off [after the England series],\u201d he revealed. \u201cEven when I was on a break \u2013 hiking and all that \u2013 I could actually feel my body hurting. I was still sore from that last Test [at The Oval] and the three hard days [during the vacation]. On the fourth day, I told myself, \u2018I'm not going to do anything\u2019. I let my wife go on her hiking trip. I stayed back for a day, and actually felt my body recover a little bit more.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At The Oval, Prasidh was at the centre of India\u2019s dramatic final-day triumph. England were cruising in pursuit of 374 before he produced two crucial strikes late on the fourth evening. Reflecting on the tense finale, he said: \u201cThe first ball, I had clearly planned, was going to be a bouncer. That ball went for a boundary, but it also helped me understand what was happening with the pitch. The second one was an inside edge altogether. Even with eight runs coming off the first two balls, I was still pretty composed. I knew I had to hit a certain area, a certain length, and let the ball do the talking.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Prasidh credited Mohammed Siraj for applying pressure from the other end. \u201cSiraj, from the other end, started off really well. The ball was swinging \u2013 not as much for me in the first couple of overs, but it was swinging for him. So I had to pull myself back a little and ask myself, \u2018Okay, what can I do now? How do I get straighter?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The turning point, he felt, was the dismissal of Jamie Smith. \u201cThe wicket of Jamie Smith changed everything. From there, it was about us being consistent in the right areas, and then it was just a matter of time before the wickets fell.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
When the final wicket fell, India erupted. \u201cIt was a big sigh,\u201d Prasidh recalled. \u201cThe joy, the shouting, the celebration we had right after the last wicket fell \u2013 it was all relief. We had put in so much as a team \u2013 every single person out there \u2013 so much mental grit and physical effort to win from the situation we were in.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The emotions, he admitted, were overwhelming. \u201cWhen I sit and watch the game now, it doesn't feel the same \u2013 because being out there, the atmosphere was so good, so electric, and the joy was so immense. That's something that will stay with me forever. I don't think I'll ever feel a similar moment just sitting back and watching from the outside.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
There was also a flashpoint with Joe Root earlier in the Test, which Prasidh was quick to clear up after India\u2019s win. \u201cI don't know why Rooty reacted,\u201d he said with a laugh. \u201cI just said, \u2018you're looking in great shape\u2019 and then it turned into a lot of abuse and all of that. I did go and speak to most of them \u2013 including Root. He said, \u2018I thought you abused me\u2019. I said, \u2018No\u2019, and he replied, \u2018I actually just wanted to get myself going as well, so I had to pump myself up\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Prasidh, that exchange summed up the spirit of the contest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThat's what I love about the sport \u2013 that's the way I've always played it. To see everybody, and especially a legend like him, putting it all out there and fighting for the team, even today, that's something for everyone to learn from. You're out there to fight, to win battles. Sometimes it takes a lot more than just skill; it takes a lot of mental grit to be part of that journey.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Prasidh, that exchange summed up the spirit of the contest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI don't think any of us expected the series to go that way,\u201d he said. \u201cIt kept swinging back and forth and, in hindsight, 2-2, we're really happy with how we played the whole series.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n