The Perth pitch lived up to its reputation, with Australian bowlers dominating India’s top order and dismissing them for just 150. Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy showed resilience in a valiant partnership, but the Australian seamers continued to pick up regular wickets.
Australia’s response got off to a rough start, as Jasprit Bumrah removed Nathan McSweeney early, followed by Khawaja and Smith. By the seventh over, the hosts were reeling at 19/3, giving India a glimmer of hope for a quick breakthrough.
Amidst the tense atmosphere, a fiery exchange between Harshit Rana and Marnus Labuschagne added some drama to the proceedings. The spark ignited in the eighth over when Rana bowled two consecutive short deliveries, which Labuschagne struggled to handle.
The tension mounted with each stare the players exchanged, leading to the fifth ball, where a short-pitched delivery from Rana struck Labuschagne.
— Pandit Pranoob (@pranoob76889) November 22, 2024
Rana, not backing down, walked up to the batter for a brief chat, to which Labuschagne cheekily responded with a kiss gesture. The playful yet intense moment caught the attention of fans, sparking a flurry of activity on Twitter.