KL Rahul and Umpire Kumar Dharmasena Engage in Heated Discussion During Test Match

In a dramatic turn of events during the fifth Test at the Oval, KL Rahul and umpire Kumar Dharmasena engaged in a heated debate following a verbal clash between Prasidh Krishna and Joe Root. Known for their calm demeanor, both Rahul and Dharmasena were seen in an animated discussion about on-field conduct. The match, which has already seen tensions rise, is crucial for Team India as they aim to level the series against England. With both teams showing intensity, this incident adds an intriguing layer to the high-stakes contest. Read on for a detailed account of the match and the unfolding drama.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 1, 2025, 23:10 IST

Tense Exchange on Day 2 of the Final Test

During the ongoing fifth Test at the Oval in London on August 1, a notable confrontation occurred between India's senior player, KL Rahul, and on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena. This incident arose following a verbal clash between Prasidh Krishna and Joe Root.

Typically known for their composed demeanor, both Rahul and Dharmasena were seen in an unusually animated discussion after the exchange between Prasidh and Root.

The altercation took place in the 22nd over of England's first innings. After Root hit a boundary off Prasidh's last delivery, he approached him with some heated words as he made his way to the non-striker's end. The umpires stepped in to de-escalate the situation, prompting Indian players to engage with the umpire to restore calm.

KL Rahul and Kumar Dharmasena's Fiery Debate

The confrontation between Prasidh Krishna and Joe Root led to a spirited debate between Dharmasena and Rahul regarding on-field behavior and how to manage the situation. Dharmasena appeared displeased with Rahul's defense of his teammate's actions.

Rahul challenged the Sri Lankan umpire, questioning if the Indian team was expected to simply bat, bowl, and leave without any engagement. Dharmasena reprimanded Rahul for his tone and suggested they discuss the matter after Day 2 of the match.

Details of the Conversation

Rahul: What do you want us to do? Stay silent?

Dharmasena: Would you like any bowler to approach you like that? No, that's not acceptable. We shouldn't proceed in that manner.

Rahul: Are we just supposed to bat and bowl and then leave?

Dharmasena: We'll talk about this after the match. You can't speak to me like that.

Background Tensions Before the Test

Tensions had already been high before the Oval Test, highlighted by a prior confrontation between Gautam Gambhir and pitch curator Lee Fortis, where Fortis instructed the Indian head coach to maintain a distance of '2.5 meters' from the pitch, provoking an angry response from Gambhir.

India's Objective in the Oval Test

As the match progresses, Team India aims to level the five-match series and conclude their UK tour positively. Currently, England leads the series 2-1 after India managed to secure a dramatic draw in the Manchester Test, thanks to strong performances from Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja.

After being put to bat first by England's stand-in captain Ollie Pope, India was dismissed for 224 runs, despite a crucial 65-run partnership between Karun Nair (57) and Washington Sundar (26) that helped recover from a precarious 153/6.

At the start of Day 2, India was at 204/6 after 64 overs but lost their last four wickets for just 20 runs in under six overs, shifting the momentum in England's favor.

England's Response

In reply, England's openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley had a strong start, forming a 92-run partnership. However, after lunch, England's batting faltered, leading to their dismissal for 247, giving them a 23-run lead.

Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna excelled after the lunch break, each taking four wickets to bowl England out for 247, with the hosts managing only 155 runs for their remaining nine wickets.