On Day 3 of the first Test against India in Hyderabad, English batsman Ollie Pope took center stage, showcasing a stellar performance. His remarkable unbeaten score of 148 not only highlighted his fearless shot selection but also revealed his resilience against the Indian bowling attack.
Pope’s unbeaten innings propelled England to a crucial lead of 126 runs in the second innings, underscoring their adaptability on the challenging Hyderabad pitch. The English team employed a plethora of reverse sweeps to unsettle India’s spin trio.
Meanwhile, in the commentary box, Bhogle and Pietersen engaged in a banter echoing the on-field action. Bhogle proposed the idea that if batters can switch, bowlers should be allowed to do the same. Contrary to this, Pietersen, known for his switch hits as a batsman, responded humorously.
Commentating alongside Bhogle, Pietersen abruptly left, expressing his contentment with the time and stating, “I am so happy it’s 25 past 3 local time, and I’m off downstairs because you’re talking rubbish.” Pietersen also playfully blamed Bhogle for injecting too much entertainment into cricket before making a swift exit.
Kevin Pietersen has challenged Harsha Bhogle for an arm wrestle fight. pic.twitter.com/VITUtt0T6I
— Cricket Ka Baap (@RajkumarChittor) January 27, 2024
The banter spilled over to Twitter after the day’s play, with Bhogle suggesting that bowlers should inform the umpire if they want to bowl left-handed, with the batsman having the same condition. Pietersen sarcastically tweeted, “he was.” This conversation ignited a switch-hit debate on social media and became a prominent topic of discussion within the cricketing community.