It was a dramatic day of cricket - on and off the pitch - at The Oval on Friday. As India and England squared off with the series still on the line, 16 wickets fell on Day 2 and tension grew in both camps while umpires tried to find the line between banter and sledging.
Prasidh Krishna, Joe Root, Akash Deep, Ben Duckett, KL Rahul in both camps and umpire Kumar Dharmasena were all involved in some amped up conversations at some point in the day.
Prasidh and veteran Root had a tense moment that required interventions from the umpires. The usually composed Root reacted animatedly and was clearly not amused with Prasidh’s comments following a boundary in the 22st over.
Later, without revealing what was said between the two, the India pacer said he relished the banter with ‘good mate’ and said riling up England’s batting mainstay was part of the team’s plans.
“I don’t know why Rooty [reacted],” Prasidh told the
BBC’s Test Match Special. “I just said, ‘you’re looking in great shape’ and then it turned into a lot of abuse and all of that.”
In the press conference, Prasidh said he was surprised by how Root took the comment. The Karnataka man also hinted that the lip service to Root was not entirely by accident.
It was the plan [to disrupt Root], but I didn’t expect the couple of words that I said to get such a big reaction from him.”
“I love the guy that he is, he is a legend of the game. It’s just when two people are out there wanting to be a winner and wanting to be the best in that moment. It was just a small thing, the competitive edge coming out. Both of us are good mates off the field and it was just a bit of banter.”
Umpire Kumar Dharmasena has a word with Prasidh Krishna after the India seamer clashed with England's Joe Root during Day Two of the 5th Test between England and India at The Oval. (Getty Images)
Meanwhile, when England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick was asked about India’s plan to disrupt Root's concentration, he said: “I think they made a comment, didn’t they? He [Prasidh] obviously tried to get after him [Root] and spark him up a little bit. Maybe they have seen him play so well over the last couple of games that India tried a different approach, and Joe bit back, as sometimes he does.
"Normally, he is the sort of guy who just laughs and giggles and allows things to happen, but today he just chose a different route. Everyone has their own method of dealing with that sort of approach, and today Joe bit back."
As it enfolded, KL Rahul indulged in some heated conversation with on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena. With the former Sri Lankan bowler trying to step in between Prasidh and Root, KL Rahul questioned, "What do you want us to do? Stay quiet" to which Dharmasena replied "You will like any bowler come and walk to you." Rahul, in anger, asked, "Then what do you want us to do, just bat, bowl and go home?"
It also appeared that the official asked KL Rahul to have this conversation off the field of play.
The day also saw a smiling Akash Deep give a rather unusual send off to Duckett, wrapping his arm around the England opener, a move that he clearly did not enjoy.
Trescothick said there was no need for the Indian pacer to act like that.
“Many in my time would have just dropped the elbow on him or something quite different. I don't think I've ever seen a bowler do that after getting someone out. Obviously, you see them having many words; you've seen it in this series on both sides. It was just different for me; I was just laughing and joking about it.
“It is what it is. You put your head down and walk off, your job is done at that point. There is no need to walk him off in that fashion,” said Trescothick.
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