Indian cricket team batter KL Rahul was involved in a heated exchange with on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena during Day 2 of the fifth Test match against England at The Oval on Friday. The incident occurred after a verbal spat between England batter Joe Root and India pacer Prasidh Krishna. Dharmasena intervened to calm things down, but Rahul stepped in to defend his teammate.

In the middle of the conversation, KL Rahul questioned the expectations placed on players' behavior. He asked the umpire, “What do you want us to do? Be quiet?” To which Dharmasena responded, “You will like any bowler to come and walk to you? No, you can't do that. No, Rahul, we should not go on that way.” Rahul, still dissatisfied, pressed further, “What do you want us to do? Just bat and bowl and go home?” Dharmasena closed the discussion with, “We will discuss at the end of the match. You can't talk like that.”

Meanwhile, on the field, India finished Day 2 in a strong position at 75/2, gaining a 52-run lead at stumps. Yashasvi Jaiswal was the standout performer with a composed and unbeaten 51, guiding the innings with poise.

India take control after heated exchange

KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan were dismissed early in the second innings, scoring 7 and 11 respectively. Josh Tongue dismissed Rahul and Gus Atkinson had Sudharsan on the way back too. But Jaiswal's attacking intent quickly wiped off the 23 run deficit.

Watch the video here

KL Rahul to Dharmasena:

"What do you want us to do, keep quiet?
"What do you want us to do, bat bowl and go home?"

KL Rahul came to save Prasidh Krishnapic.twitter.com/a6la9HvZB5

— Farrago Abdullah Parody (@abdullah_0mar) August 1, 2025

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Akash Deep, who was sent in as a night watchman, was not out on 4 at the end of play. England now have 247 in their first innings to India's 224. Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj chipped in to take four wickets each in the first innings, restricting England's lead to a slender 23 runs.