Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul displayed solid form as they began their innings with intent, reaching 52/0 in 15 overs. The duo looked comfortable against the Aussie pacers, with the bounce and pace of the Perth pitch posing little trouble.
Rahul played elegantly, relying on well-timed grounded shots to find the boundary, while Jaiswal went for more aggressive strokes, smashing both a four and a six.
A lively moment unfolded after Jaiswal hammered Mitchell Starc for a four and a six in quick succession, leading to a brief verbal exchange that added some spice to the contest.
The exchange occurred in the 19th over after Jaiswal struck a daring six off Starc toward backward square leg, prompting a smile from the bowler. On the third delivery, Jaiswal stepped across to the off-stump, meeting a length ball on middle and leg with a powerful slog that sailed over backward square leg but fell just short of the ropes.
In response, Starc bowled a fuller delivery outside off, which Jaiswal attempted to drive but narrowly missed, as the ball straightened past the edge.
— Pandit Pranoob (@pranoob76889) November 23, 2024
Starc, collecting the ball with a grin, was met with a cheeky remark from Jaiswal: “It’s coming too slow,” playfully taunting the bowler’s pace. The lighthearted banter caught the attention of fans on Twitter, sparking buzz about the budding rivalry.