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"Didn't Expect That Reaction": Prasidh Krishna Clears Air On Sledging Joe Root

Soumyajit Dutta

Joe Root and Prasidh Krishna sledge [Source: @prosperousYT/X.com]Joe Root and Prasidh Krishna sledge [Source: @prosperousYT/X.com]

India pacer Prasidh Krishna admitted he was taken aback by Joe Root's animated reaction to his on-field chatter during Day 2 of the fifth Test at The Oval. The usually composed England batter engaged in a heated exchange with Krishna and KL Rahul, prompting umpire intervention in an unexpected flare-up.

Krishna, who bowled a sharp spell against England's middle order, revealed the incident about the sledging and said that while sledging, Root was intentional, the intensity of the response surprised him.

Krishna Defines His Aggressive Approach On Field

Speaking at the post-day press conference, the fast bowler explained his mindset and cleared air on the 'Joe Root incident'.

"That was the plan, but I didn’t expect the couple of words I said to get such a big reaction from him. That’s just who I am when I’m bowling, when I’m enjoying. If it means that I have a bit of a chat with the batter… it does help me when I can get under their nerves." Krishna said in the press conference.

"Well it was a very small thing, I think it was just a competitive edge amongst us that was coming out. Both of us are good mates off the field. It was just a little bit of a banter and both of us enjoyed it," Krishna added.

Despite the confrontation, Krishna was also quick to acknowledge Joe Root’s stature in the game, brushing off any grudge off the field.

"I love the guy that he is. He is a legend of the game, and I think it is great when two people are out there wanting to do the best and be a winner at a given moment," Krishna stated.

Umpires Intervene as Tempers Flare

The incident escalated after Prasidh Krishna bowled a ripper to Root, followed by verbal exchanges. The England star responded by cutting the next ball for a boundary while exchanging words, leading to umpires Ahsan Raza and Kumar Dharmasena stepping in. KL Rahul, visibly displeased with the officials' involvement, was seen arguing with Dharmasena.

The altercation highlighted the high stakes of the series decider, with India deploying aggressive tactics to unsettle England’s batting mainstay. As the Test hangs in balance, the duel between Krishna and Root adds another fiery chapter to this fiercely contested series, where India is now leading by 52 runs at the end of Day 2 and is poised to give a massive target to England.