Indian cricketer KL Rahul found himself in a heated exchange with umpire Kumar Dharmasena during the fifth Test against England, sparking concerns about on-field conduct.
Tensions Flare at The Oval
Day two of the fifth Test between India and England at The Oval saw tempers run high. The match was marked by several fiery exchanges, with players from both sides getting involved in verbal spats.
The intensity on the field escalated, creating a feisty atmosphere that kept both players and officials busy throughout the day’s play.
Rahul’s Stand-Off with Umpire Dharmasena
The most notable incident involved KL Rahul and umpire Kumar Dharmasena during England’s first innings. The altercation occurred in the 22nd over after Indian bowler Prasidh dismissed Zak Crawley and then continued to engage with Joe Root.
Following Root’s retaliatory remarks after hitting a boundary, Dharmasena intervened, speaking to Prasidh and India captain Shubman Gill. It was then that Rahul stepped in.
“What, do you want us to be quiet?” Rahul reportedly asked the umpire. Dharmasena quickly tried to de-escalate, responding, “Will you like any bowler come and talk to you like that? No, you can’t do that. No Rahul, we should not go that way.”
Rahul, however, pushed back, questioning, “What do you want us to do? Just bat and ball and go home?” Dharmasena, clearly displeased, concluded the discussion with a firm warning: “We’ll discuss that at the end of the match. You can’t talk like that.”
Earlier Incident: Akash Deep’s Fiery Send-Off
This wasn’t the only moment of heightened tension for the Indian side. Earlier in the day, Indian pacer Akash Deep drew attention for his animated send-off to Ben Duckett.
After dismissing Duckett, who had scored a rapid 43, Deep celebrated emphatically. He was seen putting his arm around Duckett and exchanging words as they walked off the field.
KL Rahul had to intervene, pulling Deep away from the English opener. Umpire Ahsan Raza also had a word with Akash Deep about his conduct immediately after the incident, highlighting the umpires’ vigilance.
- KL Rahul engaged in a verbal spat with umpire Kumar Dharmasena regarding player conduct.
- The incident occurred during a tense Day 2 of the India vs England Test match.
- Earlier, Akash Deep’s fiery send-off to Ben Duckett also required intervention from Rahul and umpire Ahsan Raza.
- Dharmasena warned Rahul that their conversation would continue after the match, emphasizing that such discussions were not acceptable on the field.
These incidents underscore the high stakes and competitive spirit of the Test series, with both teams pushing boundaries on the field. The aftermath of these exchanges will be closely monitored.
