Prasidh Krishna and Joe Root’s On-Field Tension Strategically Planned

India’s fast bowler Prasidh Krishna disclosed that his recent on-field confrontation with England’s Joe Root was part of a broader competitive strategy during the fifth Test at The Oval. The incident unfolded on the second day of play, where the intensity of their exchange was evident, despite the stump microphones not capturing their exact words. Root’s animated response suggested a high level of engagement, surprising Krishna.

“It was the plan [to disrupt him], but I didn’t expect the couple of words that I said to get such a big reaction from him,” Krishna stated in an interview with BBC’s Test Match Special. Acknowledging Root’s stature in the sport, he added, “I love the guy that he is; he is a legend of the game. 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.”

As the match moved into its third day, India held a lead of 52 runs with eight wickets remaining. The team aimed to capitalize on the challenging pitch conditions at The Oval to set a formidable target for England.

England’s performance was marred by missed opportunities, as fielders dropped three crucial catches late on Day 2. Notably, Harry Brook dropped Yashasvi Jaiswal in the fifth over, while Liam Dawson let another chance slip in the 14th over. Sai Sudharsan, who was dismissed LBW, was also given an early reprieve when Zak Crawley dropped him.

Krishna’s bowling stood out during the match, as he achieved figures of 4 for 62 across 16 overs, including one maiden. His performance played a key role in restricting England to 247 runs, while India had posted 224 in their first innings. This match marked Krishna’s sixth Test appearance, wherein he has now claimed 18 wickets at an average of 35. Notably, this was his first four-wicket haul in Test cricket.

In the context of the match, Root managed to score 29 runs from 45 balls before his dismissal significantly impacted England’s position, reducing them to 175 for 4. As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Root’s innings brought his total to 7,224 runs in home Test matches, placing him as the second-highest scorer in this category, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who had scored 7,216 runs on home soil. Root’s average stands impressively at 55.14, with 23 centuries and 33 half-centuries to his name.

As the match progresses, both teams remain focused on their strategies, with India’s bowlers and England’s batters looking to take control in the pivotal moments ahead.