WATCH: On Day 1 of the AUS vs IND 4th Test, Rohit Sharma issues warning to Marnus Labuschag ne for running on pitch
The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) witnessed a heated confrontation between Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Australian batter MarnusLabuschagne over repeated violations of the danger zone on the pitch. After Australia won the toss and opted to bat, Rohit’s frustration grew as Labuschagne consistently ran down the center of the pitch, potentially compromising its condition for India’s second innings.
In the 50th over, following Usman Khawaja’s dismissal, Rohit approached Labuschagne at the non-striker’s end and sternly addressed him about his actions. Replays confirmed Labuschagne’s repeated infringements, yet the umpires took no action. Rohit warned Labuschagne, stating, “It’s not about ball spinning or not; what is rule is rule. It has been a few times now,” emphasizing that this was Labuschagne’s third violation.
Watch the video here.
Despite the controversy, Labuschagne played a pivotal role in stabilizing Australia’s innings, scoring 72 runs off 145 balls, including seven boundaries. His performance helped Australia surpass 200 runs, showcasing his ability to mix caution with aggression. However, his running tactics continued to stir debate, as Rohit’s warnings went unheeded. Ultimately, Labuschagne was dismissed by Washington Sundar, but his innings had already made a significant Impact on the match.