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.
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.
The complete conversation between KL Rahul and Kumar Dharmasena –
Rahul says to Kumar Dharmasena what do you want us to do Be quiet, just bat and bowl and go home.
In reply Dharmasena says will u like any bowler to come and walk to you, no can’t do that. No Rahul we should not go on that way, we will discuss at the end of the match you can’t talk like that.
It is extremely unlikely that Rahul will face any kind of punishment as he did not use any unparliamentary language while speaking to the umpire. Also, the umpires will have to take into account the situation of the match and the stakes attached with it. Once the match gets over, we will get more clarity on the matter.
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.
At the moment, India have their noses slightly in front with a lead of 52 runs. India have eight wickets in hand and Yashasvi Jaiswal is batting on 51*. India would hope to get as many runs as possible as the pitch is expected to get tougher to bat on as the game progresses. The first session on Day 3 could be decisive from the point of view of both sides.
