High drama, heated exchanges and a flurry of controversies — the fifth Test between India and England at The Oval has turned into more than just a game of bat and ball. With the ongoing test series nearing its conclusion, tensions have boiled over on and off the field. From a verbal spat involving Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir to a fiery face-off between pacer Akash Deep and Ben Duckett, the Test has already delivered enough off-field drama. Here are four major flashpoints that have set social media and cricket circles buzzing:
Gambhir’s tussle
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly argued with groundsman Lee Fortis. Gambhir seemed unhappy about some alleged restrictions on the Indian team, leading to a heated exchange. While some people back home in India criticised Gambhir’s behaviour, others quickly blamed Fortis, suggesting he might be favouring the home team over the visitors.
Wrong decision by the umpire
On the first day, Umpire Kumar Dharmasena found himself in the spotlight after mistakenly signalling an inside edge during an LBW appeal against India’s Sai Sudharsan. This key mistake led England to forgo a DRS review, sparking immediate outrage on social media. Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar criticised the decision, while umpire Anil Chaudhary defended Dharmasena, saying it was an honest mistake made in the heat of the moment.
Akash Deep vs Ben Duckett
The second day, Indian pacer Akash Deep got in trouble after he put his arm around England’s Ben Duckett following his dismissal. England’s assistant coach, Marcus Trescothick, called it “strange” and unnecessary. He even suggested that many players from his era would have reacted much more aggressively. Legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting humorously admitted he might have thrown a punch back in his playing days.
Prasidh Krishna confronts
The fourth controversy involves Prasidh Krishna, another Indian bowler, who faced backlash on social media for his confrontational interaction with England’s Joe Root. Krishna later explained that it was part of India’s plan to “unsettle” Root, although he admitted he didn’t expect such a strong response from the usually composed English batter.Amid the on-field tension, umpire Dharmasena tried to defuse the situation, only to be reportedly questioned by Indian wicketkeeper KL Rahul. Rahul’s alleged question, “What, do you want us to be quiet?” highlighted the rising frustration.