Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has discussed the heated altercation that happened between England’s Joe Root and India pacer Prasidh Krishna on day two of the ongoing fifth Test at the Oval.

Prasidh and Root had a heated exchange on Day 2 of the 5th India vs. England Test that necessitated umpire intervention. After a boundary in the 22nd over, the normally calm Root responded angrily and was obviously not amused by Prasidh's remarks.

Former India star Dinesh Karthik was amused and stated that he really wanted to know what was discussed between Root and Krishna during that heated altercation.

“I genuinely wouldn't know at this point. I really want to find out. I haven't seen Joe Root react that way. He said something, which irked Root a bit, because he isn't the one to react. He made it sound like, 'Don't try to be too smart here.' Things started there, and Prasidh Krishna didn't back down,” Karthik told Sky Sports Cricket.

“By then, a couple of wickets had fallen, and it kind of went on to pick after that. That was a session that told you everything about this series. England had it there in the first session, but India pulled it back in such a way that they were in as good a position as England was,” he stated.  

Later on, Prasidh Krishna referred to Joe Root as 'good mate.'

“Well, it was a very small thing. I think it was just a competitive edge amongst us that was coming out. Both of us are good mates off the field. It was just a little bit of banter, and both of us enjoyed it. That was also the plan. But I didn't really expect a couple of words that I said to get such a big reaction from him. But like I said, I love the guy that he is. He's a legend of the game.

And for him to come out there, it's great when two people are out there wanting to do their best,” said Prasidh in the post-day press conference.

Prasidh Krishna took four wickets as England was bowled out for 247 runs in response to India’s 224 and managed a narrow lead of 18 runs.

“That was also the plan. But I didn't really expect a couple of words that I said to get such a big reaction from him. But like I said, I love the guy that he is. He's a legend of the game. And for him to come out there, it's great when two people are out there wanting to do their best,” said Prasidh.

A bit of chatter with the opposition batter tends to get the best out of him, Prasidh revealed.

“I try and enjoy bowling if it means that I have a bit of a chat with the batsman. And it does help me when the batsman also is; I can get under his nerves and get a reaction from him. And I think I was just running in well,” said the lanky fast bowler.

(PTI inputs)