Prasidh Krishna positive of India’s chances after stellar bowling effort on Day 2

Prasidh Krishna highlighted the team's exceptional bowling performance that bundled out Australia for just 181 runs in the first innings.

Contributing significantly to the effort, Prasidh claimed three crucial wickets and stepped up as a key figure in the attack, especially after pace spearhead and stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah was forced off the field due to injury concerns.

“The team is really pumped up. You could see the way that we were going after, even when we were bowling, the way that we were moving between overs. I think we're really confident about the plans that we have in mind and the skill set that we have. So, we are really here for a fight and we make sure we get it our way this game," Prasidh said.

The 28-year-old credited his impressive performance in his first match of the series to the valuable experience gained while playing for India A and his domestic team, along with the guidance and support from the coaching staff.

“I was here playing the India A games. I did get a bit of confidence bowling in Australia and having played some red ball cricket previously in the Duleep Trophy, I was in good rhythm, I was running in well and to have seen the way the bowlers have bowled in the last four innings, four games that we played, I did learn a lot.

“And then when I got the ball in hand, obviously there was a bit of nerves when I started off. The first over went well, the next few didn't go really well. But then I have enough people in the team who I can actually go to sit down and discuss what went wrong, what could be better. And we have put in a lot of work. Morne and myself, we kind of have a lot of discussions about what has to be done and things are going well for now.”

He also discussed the evolving nature of the pitch and its potential impact on the final three days of the Test.

“Yes, actually it is getting difficult in some areas. The ball is keeping low sometimes, but there is enough bounce for us to be in the game and look for those edges and try and beat them on either side of the bat.”

Additionally, he expressed immense praise and admiration for Rishabh Pant's aggressive and fearless innings that fired it up for India in their second innings.

Pant's explosive 33-ball 61-run knock consisted of six fours and four sixes, including taking on Boland for a six off his very first ball at the crease.

“All of us were sitting together, the bowlers were sitting together and watching him bat and we definitely said if I was sitting at home and watching this, I would have loved it. To be able to do it from the ground, I mean, nothing like it. I know it's a lot of risk, but that's the way the game is played today.”

With India leading by 145 runs with four wickets in hand, the right-arm pacer was asked what he considered a safe target for India to defend.

“As many runs as possible would be great for us because we don't really know what the wicket is behaving like. It's going up, it's going down. If you can be aggressive, there is risk involved, but you get a reward of runs. But yeah, there's no particular number in mind, but then as many runs as we score would be great.”

The pacer also provided a key update on Jasprit Bumrah's fitness after the stand-in captain bowled just one over following lunch and left the field to undergo scans.

"He [Jasprit Bumrah] had a back spasm. He had gone for scans. The medical team is monitoring him. So we will know whenever the medical team gets back to us."