The ongoing fifth Test at The Oval has been nothing short of intense, with India showing strong momentum against England. After bowling the hosts out for 247 in their second innings, India closed the day at 75 for 2, led by a composed half-century from Yashasvi Jaiswal. With only a modest target to chase and tensions flaring earlier in the match, the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is heading towards a dramatic finish.
Among the most talked-about moments of the match was a fiery incident between Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna and England’s Joe Root. The drama unfolded just after Root walked in to bat during England’s second innings. Prasidh Krishna made a comment which he considered harmless, telling Root that he was “looking in great shape”. Surprisingly, the remark sparked an emotional reaction from Joe Root, leading to a heated exchange that included verbal abuse and visible anger on the field.
Joe Root, visibly irritated, countered with a few aggressive shots, hitting boundaries off Prasidh. The Indian bowler, in turn, responded with a barrage of bouncers, intensifying the tension. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena quickly stepped in and began monitoring Prasidh closely, even involving Indian captain Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper KL Rahul in a conversation about keeping things in check, which they didn’t seem entirely comfortable with.
Prasidh later spoke to media, expressing surprise at how his words were taken. He insisted there was no ill-intent behind the comment and that he was simply trying to get into Root’s head as part of a larger strategy to disrupt his focus. While admitting that this tactic was deliberate, he was shocked at the reaction it provoked.
In the post-match press interaction, Prasidh reiterated that he enjoys playing with passion and sometimes uses light banter to test a batter’s nerves. He emphasised that he holds Root in high regard, calling him a legend of the game and someone he respects deeply. For Prasidh, the heat of the battle brings out a more expressive side of his personality as a bowler.
The episode concluded with Root being dismissed leg-before by Mohammed Siraj and England collapsing with just a narrow lead. The contest remains finely poised but the emotional edge to the match has certainly added another layer of drama to this storied rivalry.
