NEW DELHI: In a high-tension encounter on the opening day of the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India captain Rohit Sharma confronted Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne over running on the pitch while taking runs.
With the series tied at 1-1, the stakes in this decisive Test for a spot in the ICC World Test Championship final are immense, and emotions ran high.
Scorecard: India vs Australia, 4th Test
The incident occurred as Rohit expressed his dissatisfaction with Labuschagne and debutant Sam Konstas repeatedly running on the danger area of the pitch, a zone critical for spinners in later stages. Rohit's animated discussion with Labuschagne caught the attention of fans and commentators alike.
Former India all-rounder and commentator Irfan Pathan explained the situation, saying, “Rohit Sharma yeh bata rahe hain ki jab aap bhaag rahe hain toh aap pitch mein bhaag rahe hain.”
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar echoed Pathan’s observations, adding, “Sam Konstas bhi. Sam Konstas ko aapne dekha, toh woh seedha hi pitch pe bhaagta tha. Aur usko kuch kisi ne bola nahi.”
Gavaskar further remarked on the umpires’ inaction, stating, “Aur umpire bas wahaan dekh rahe hain. Jo baatchit chal rahi hai Rohit Sharma aur Labuschagne ke beech, toh dekho umpire bas dekh rahe hain.”
Virat Kohli, fielding in the slip cordon, was also seen expressing his displeasure about the issue.
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Following the conversation, Labuschagne appeared to agree with Sharma, nodding in acknowledgment. However, his resistance to India’s attack was short-lived as Washington Sundar dismissed him for 72 off 145 balls, an innings that included seven boundaries.
The dramatic first day has set the stage for an intense battle, with every moment scrutinized in this crucial Test match.
