'You can't talk like that': KL Rahul, Kumar Dharmasena engage in heated exchange following Root-Krishna drama on Day 2 of IND vs ENG 5th Test

The fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval saw tempers flare on Day 2. A heated exchange took place between England's star batter Joe Root and Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna which then got spiralled which saw KL Rahul and on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena getting into a heated debate.

On-field tensions rise at The Oval

The altercation began after Root hit Krishna for a boundary and didn't appreciate the pacer's comments, prompting him to charge toward the Indian bowler. The tension escalated to the point where on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Kumar Dharmasena had to step in and speak with both players to de-escalate the situation.

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War of words between KL Rahul and Kumar Dharmasena

In the aftermath of the confrontation, Indian opener KL Rahul came to his teammate's defense, approaching umpire Dharmasena to understand the issue. However, Rahul's tone and comments did not sit well with the official, who reprimanded the Indian batter. Rahul questioned Dharmasena about whether the Indian team was expected to just play without showing any emotion or competitive spirit. Dharmasena, however, sided with Root, stating that a bowler should not get so close to a batsman and engage in such a verbal exchange. Despite Rahul continuing to support Krishna, the umpire ended the conversation by criticizing his tone and warning him that the incident would be "discussed" after the match.

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Here's what transpired between KL Rahul and Kumar Dharmasena:

KL Rahul: What do you want us to do? Be quiet?
Kumar Dharmasena: You will like any bowler come and walk to you? No, you can't do that. No, Rahul, we should not go on that way.
KL Rahul: What do you want us to do? Just bat and bowl and go home?
Kumar Dharmasena: We will discuss at the end of the match. You can't talk like that

After being bowled out for 224 in their first innings, India fought back strongly on Day 2 of the Oval Test. England's openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, had threatened to take control of the match with a solid 92-run partnership. However, their momentum was halted by a stellar bowling performance from Mohammed Siraj.

The Indian pacer showcased his experience, taking three crucial wickets in a lengthy eight-over spell during the second session. He dismissed the key batsmen of Joe Root, Ollie Pope, and Jacob Bethell, shifting the momentum back to India. This spell was instrumental in the visitors' comeback, as England was eventually bowled out for 247, managing to secure only a slender 23-run lead.