During the second India vs Australia test match at Delhi, a light-hearted moment between rivals Virat Kohli and Steve Smith occurred. Ravichandran Ashwin employed a classic intimidation tactic during the match, halting his run-up to check if Steve Smith was leaving his crease.
This tactic often rattles a player’s focus, but in this case, it brought laughter from both teams. Ashwin executed the move while bowling to Labuschagne. As the spinner paused in his run- up, Steve Smith also had to pause his movements to avoid leaving the crease and being run out at the non-striker’s end.
However, the tactic turned into a humorous moment as all three players, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne, burst into laughter. The humor continued as Ashwin and Labuschagne engaged in some playacting. Ashwin pulled out of his run-up, and Labuschagne crouched low for a sweep or reverse shot.
Marnus had a big smile on his face, while Smith was relieved that Ashwin was not attempting to run him out. This incident provided a welcome break from the usual intensity that comes with a test match between these two cricketing giants.
Although the rivalry between India and Australia is fierce, moments like this demonstrate that sportsmanship and humor can be found even in the most heated of matches.
