Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna recently shared how a simple comment led to a fiery exchange with England’s star batter Joe Root during their Test match at The Oval, ultimately getting under his skin.
The Exchange That Sparked Fire
The incident unfolded during England’s first innings on the second day of the fifth and final Test. With India holding a slim 52-run lead, pacer Prasidh Krishna delivered a ball to Joe Root, who had just come to the crease.
After Root played and missed a delivery from Krishna, the Indian bowler offered a seemingly innocent comment. “I just said, ‘you’re looking in great shape’,” Krishna revealed to BBC’s Test Match Special. What followed was an unexpected reaction, as Krishna noted, “and then it turned into a lot of abuse and all of that.”
A Calculated Plan
Krishna later confirmed that provoking Root was, in fact, part of India’s strategy. Root had walked in when England was at 129 for 2, and disrupting his rhythm was a key goal for the Indian side.
“It was the plan [to disrupt Root],” Krishna stated at the post-stumps press briefing on Day 2. He admitted, however, that he didn’t anticipate such a strong reaction from the seasoned batter based on his few words.
Despite the on-field intensity, Krishna emphasized that there’s no bad blood. He referred to Root as “a legend of the game” and clarified that the exchange was simply a display of competitive spirit between two players aiming for victory. “It was just a small thing, the competitive edge coming out,” he added, assuring that they are “good mates off the field.”
England’s Perspective
England’s assistant coach, Marcus Trescothick, weighed in on the incident when asked about India’s attempts to unsettle Root, who has been England’s top run-scorer in the series. Trescothick acknowledged India’s intention to “spark him up a little bit.”
He suggested that India might have been trying a different approach, given Root’s exceptional form in previous games. Trescothick noted that while Root typically maintains his composure, on this occasion, he chose to “bite back,” which is sometimes a part of a player’s response to such tactics.
- Prasidh Krishna’s comment, “you’re looking in great shape,” sparked a heated exchange with Joe Root.
- Disrupting Root’s focus was a pre-planned strategy by the Indian team.
- Root only managed to score 29 runs in that innings, while Krishna achieved his best Test bowling figures of 4/62.
- Both players clarified that the exchange was a moment of competitive banter and they remain friends off the field.
The on-field banter added an extra layer of drama to an already competitive Test match, highlighting the psychological battles that often unfold in high-stakes cricket.
