In an intense moment during the fifth Test match at The Oval, Indian fast bowler Prasidh Krishna admitted that it was a planned strategy to disturb England star Joe Root. The situation got heated on Day 2 when Root and Krishna had a tense exchange on the field.
Although the microphones didn’t catch what was said, Root’s reaction surprised many viewers. He was unusually upset for a player known to stay calm under pressure.
India’s Strategy Was to Shake Root’s Focus
Krishna, who took 4 wickets for 62 runs, explained that the Indian team had planned to throw Root off his game by engaging him. Krishna said:
“It was part of our plan, but I didn’t expect him to react like that. I really respect Root—he’s a great player. It was just some small talk and part of the competition.”
- Krishna added that he and Root are friends off the field.
- The interaction was more about competition than any serious fight.
- England was in a tough spot with India holding an early 52-run lead.
Series Marked by High Tension and Drama
This Test series has seen a lot of drama both on and off the field. There have been multiple incidents throughout:
- India coach Gautam Gambhir argued with The Oval staff before the match started.
- India’s captain Shubman Gill accused England of time-wasting tactics.
- Indian bowler Mohammed Siraj was fined for celebrating too aggressively in a previous match.
Earlier in the game, another awkward moment happened when India’s Akash Deep dismissed Ben Duckett and put his arm around him while walking him off—an unusual gesture.
England Responds but Faces Setbacks
England’s assistant coach, Marcus Trescothick, acknowledged that the Indian team was trying to shake Root’s confidence. He also mentioned that both teams have exchanged words throughout the series.
“India tried a different tactic, and Root responded differently today,” he said. “Usually, Root laughs off these things, but not this time.”
- Despite Root scoring 29 runs, he was later dismissed by Siraj.
- England is dealing with injuries and changes in their lineup.
- Chris Woakes is injured, and the team lacks experienced bowlers.
Experts Question England’s Player Selection
Former England captain Michael Vaughan strongly criticized England’s selection choices. According to him, the team picked players who haven’t played much cricket recently, which put them at a disadvantage:
- Jacob Bethell, just 21 years old, played only one red-ball match in seven months.
- Jamie Overton, brought in due to other players resting or being injured, has played very little first-class cricket.
Vaughan said:
“Throwing in players without enough match practice is risky, especially on such a big stage.”
Match Still Open – India Slightly Ahead
India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 51 runs despite being dropped twice. England also dropped other chances, which may hurt their chances.
Former cricketers Deep Dasgupta and Alastair Cook shared different views:
- Dasgupta believes India has managed pressure better throughout the series.
- Cook thinks the pitch will improve on Day 3 and gives England a slight edge.
- Prasidh Krishna confirms trying to mentally distract Joe Root was part of India’s plan.
- Root’s strong reaction surprised both fans and players.
- England’s dropped catches and weak selections are adding to their struggles.
The Test series remains highly competitive, with tensions running high on both sides.
