The apparent phrase which sparked the heated confrontation between Joe Root and Prasidh Krishna on day two of the fifth and final Test between England and India has emerged.
Root and Krishna got into it in what was the main talking point in the action at The Oval on Friday, with a clip of their altercation going viral.
The 34-year-old scored a boundary in the 22st over, hitting a four to get off the mark from his sixth ball. But then there were words between he and Krishna, with their exchange so tense that umpire Kumar Dharmasena had to get involved and diffuse the situation.
Typically calm and composed, Root looked incensed, with England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick commenting, "Joe's normally the kind of guy who laughs and giggles and allows things to happen, but today he chose a different route".
Former India star and current Sky Sports analyst Dinesh Karthik chimed in with his take on the frosty row and offered an insight into what he believes was said.
Advert
"I genuinely wouldn't know at this point," Karthik said on Sky Sports' coverage.
"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."
England vs India has been a fiesty affair
India pace bowler Krishna was on press conference duties afterwards and played down the incident, calling Root a "good mate" and a "legend of the game".
Advert
"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 a banter and both of us enjoyed it,” Prasidh commented.
“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."
Root has not commented directly on the spat but Trescothick confirmed the remark "was nothing that you wouldn't hear on a normal game day".
The square off was among a number of flare-ups in the battle between England and India, including Ben Stokes having words with Ravindra Jadeja after he rejected a handshake to end the game early as a draw on the fifth day.
Advert
There was also the situation where Ben Duckett told Akash Deep "you can't get me out" but when the pace bowler did, he put his arm over the 30-year-old's shoulders in a move which could breach ICC rules on "inappropriate physical contact".
Proceedings resume on Saturday at 11am, with England lead the series 2-1.
Josh Lawless