The intensity of the England-India Test series once again boiled over on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test, with Joe Root getting into a heated exchange with Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna. The incident unfolded just after Root walked in at 124/2 following Zak Crawley’s fluent 64-run knock.

With overcast conditions aiding swing and the ball doing plenty, Root was under immediate pressure. But instead of just facing the bowlers, he soon found himself involved in a verbal duel. While the exact trigger for the spat remains unclear, tensions had already been simmering from an earlier incident in which Prasidh Krishna had needlessly hurled the ball toward Crawley.

That act didn’t go unnoticed, and perhaps it carried over when Root came to the crease. A few overs later, Root and Krishna locked eyes during a brief but fiery stare-down. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena had to step in, signaling the Indian bowlers to keep their emotions in check.

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Commenting on the exchange, former England skipper Michael Atherton noted, “It’s rare to see Joe Root lose his composure like that. He’s usually one of the calmest figures on the field.”

Joe Root and Prasidh Krishna interaction #ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/5zOGWj84QQ

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The series has been charged with emotion throughout. Earlier in the day, Akash Deep gave Ben Duckett a pointed send-off after dismissing him with a clever delivery.

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In previous matches too, tempers have flared—most notably when Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar rejected Ben Stokes’ handshake at Old Trafford. With England leading the series 2-1, India must win this Test to draw level, and judging by the on-field tension, both teams are giving it everything.