I signed my first autograph during school cricket: Prasidh Krishna

In a conversation on JioCinema’s daily show ‘#AAKASHVANI’, hosted by Aakash Chopra, India bowler Prasidh Krishna recalled his initial days in the sport, his first coach, his first pair of bowling spikes and the first autograph he signed when playing for his school team! Excerpts: 

Q1) Whose was the first autograph you sought? 

I think it was Wasim Jaffer or Rahul Dravid. I am confused between the two because it was the day at the NCA when both of them were batting. But I feel it was Wasim Jaffer because I remember the sign on my cap. 

Q2) Which was your first live cricket match? 

The India versus Australia Test match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium was the first match I watched live.  

Q3) Who was the first international cricketer you met? 

I think it was Robin Uthappa. 

Q4) Who was your first cricket idol? 

It should be Sachin Tendulkar. He’s the God of cricket. I began watching cricket because of him.  

Q5) You remember your first cricket ball? 

We were a group of six friends who would always lose the ball. So, we would contribute five rupees each and get a ball that cost Rs 30 at that time. Then, one day I asked my father to give me Rs 30 for the ball telling him that I had lost my friend’s ball. So, he gave me that money and I bought the ball. 

Q6) Who was your first cricket coach? 

Mr. Shrinivas Murthy was my first cricket coach. He was my school coach. I remember the days when I literally didn’t know how to run. He corrected my running technique. He taught me how to take the first steps of cricket. So, it’s really memorable. 

Q7) Your first cricket jersey? 

It has to be the Karnataka jersey. I always looked at people getting into selections wearing the KSCA logo. It meant a lot to me when I got picked for the U-14 state team. I still have the jersey with me. 

Q8) What did you do with the money that you first earned playing cricket? 

I think it was my first pair of cricket spikes. When I ended up getting selected for the state team, I didn’t have a pair of spikes, so my dad bought me a pair. The next year, I bought a pair of Nike spikes from the match fees I had earned. 

Q9) When did you give your first interview? 

My first interview was on the first day of my First-Class debut when I got five wickets. I had no clue about what an interview would feel like. I was taken up the stairs. There was a large gathering of the Press and I was asked questions and it felt great. 

Q10) What’s your memory of your first India match? 

It was quite special. It was Covid time and I was picked in the team. I was quarantined for seven days or 14 days. I don’t remember clearly. I spent all those days waiting to wear the India colours because it’s everybody’s dream to be wearing them. Then I was told that I would play. We were on the list and KL (Rahul) asked me how I felt. I showed no emotion and he pointed this out to me! He asked me: ‘Are you already thinking that this is where you belong?’ I said yeah and that’s what it felt like. It felt special to get that first cap and I was telling myself that this is just the start of things to come. 

Q11) The first autograph you signed? 

It was a funny moment because it involved one of my close friends. I just started playing cricket in school and she came up to me and said, ‘Look Prasidh, I don’t know how big a cricketer you are going to become, but when you become someone big, I’ll remember, and I’ll show people your autograph’. I met her recently and she told me I still have the autograph.