‘Our players are classy and…’ - Rohit Sharma opens up about Jasprit Bumrah’s verbal spat with Sam Konstas

Rohit Sharma was in conversation with Star Sports during the lunch break on day two of the SCG Test match. One of the questions asked of the 37-year-old was about the verbal spat that took place between Sam Konstas and Jasprit Bumrah at the end of the 1st day. For the unversed, Konstas said something to the pacer at the top of his bowling mark. 

This provoked a strong response from the pacer who returned the verbal volleys before the officials stepped in. After taking the wicket of Usman Khawaja, the Indian pacer turned towards Konstas as the rest of the players surrounded the young batter. Even on Saturday Bumrah, Kohli, and Yashasvi Jaiswal had plenty to say to the batter. 

Addressing this issue, Rohit Sharma said “When our players are quiet, they are quiet, but when you poke them, they will not leave you. Our players are classy and don’t start confrontation. It is better if you concentrate on your game rather than getting involved in unnecessary stuff”

Team India bowled out Australia for 181 in their first innings to take a lead of four runs. All the seamers pressed into action got the wickets with Siraj and Prasidh Krishna pocketing three wickets each. Stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah picked the wickets of Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne while Nitish Reddy got two wickets. 

Also Read:Rohit Sharma opens up about captaincy situation for Team India

Rishabh Pant lights up SCG as Australia even the odds

Indian wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant took the attack to the opposition with his counter-attacking knock. The 27-year-old scored 61 runs from 33 balls with the help of 6 boundaries and 4 huge sixes. Two of those sixes came off successive deliveries off Mitchell Starc as he raced to his half-century from just 29 balls.

The fastest Test fifty by an Indian batter is scored by Rishabh Pant himself which came off 28 balls in 2022 against Sri Lanka. Just when it seemed Pant was looking good to get a ton, he played a needless shot against Pat Cummins to be caught behind by Alex Carey. 

Scott Boland was yet again the best bowler for Australia with 4/42 from 13 overs. His first wicket was that of KL Rahul bowled for 13. In the next over, Boland got the scalps of Yashasvi Jaiswal for 22 and followed it up with the wicket of Virat Kohli for six runs. The veteran pacer ended the day with the wicket of Nitish Reddy for 4 runs. 

India were placed at 141/6 with an overall lead of 145. On Sunday the visitors will look to add more runs as the pitch is still supporting the pace bowlers. Ravindra Jadeja is batting on 8 with Washington Sundar keeping him company on 4. Skipper Jasprit Bumrah was taken to the hospital for scans but much to the delight of Indian fans he was back on the ground.