On the second morning, Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey resumed batting, but Jasprit Bumrah quickly took charge, striking early in the 29th over to dismiss Carey and bring Nathan Lyon to the crease.
The pitch still favored the pace bowlers, and Harshit Rana made an impact by finding Lyon’s edge, leaving Australia in a precarious position at 79/9.
Despite India’s dominance, the bowlers were growing frustrated as Starc and Josh Hazlewood stubbornly added 18 runs, pushing Australia to 99/9. In a tense moment, Rana bowled a bouncer that struck Starc on the helmet.
On the third ball of the 40th over, Rana delivered a well-directed short ball, which flew at Starc as he attempted to duck. Starc misjudged the delivery, and it hit him on the head, visibly shaking him.
Showing great sportsmanship, Rana immediately approached his KKR teammate to check on him, asking if he was okay, to which Starc gave a thumbs-up.
— Pandit Pranoob (@pranoob76889) November 23, 2024
Following protocol, Starc underwent a brief concussion test with the team doctor and physio, before being cleared to continue, much to the relief of players and fans alike. The moment drew praise from the Twitterverse, applauding Rana’s concern and the camaraderie between the two.