Indian fast bowler Prasidh Krishna expressed his surprise over Joe Root’s unexpected reaction during a brief on-field confrontation on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test between India and England.

The incident occurred shortly after Root walked in to bat with England at 129 for 2. Krishna immediately tested the former England captain with a sharp delivery that struck his gloves, followed by another that beat the outside edge. It was then that Krishna directed a few words at Root—remarks he described later as playful—which sparked a tense exchange between the two players.

Root responded with a crisp square drive for four and exchanged words with Krishna, prompting umpire Kumar Dharmasena to step in and temporarily pause play.

Speaking after the day’s play, Prasidh said the brief sledging was part of a broader plan to disrupt Root’s focus, but he hadn’t anticipated such a strong reaction from the seasoned batter.

“I wasn’t expecting that kind of response. I just said something light, like ‘you’re looking in great shape,’ and it suddenly escalated,” Krishna explained in an interview with the BBC’s Test Match Special.

He added, “We had discussed trying to get under his skin a bit, but I didn’t think a couple of harmless words would provoke that kind of emotion. Still, I respect Root a lot—he’s a true great of the game.”

Krishna, who thrives on intensity, mentioned that engaging with batters helps him stay sharp. “That’s part of how I operate. If a bit of chatter can shift the momentum, it helps. It’s all about competing, and sometimes emotions run high,” he said.

Root was eventually dismissed for 29 as England’s innings faltered, ending at 247 and giving them a narrow lead of 23 runs.