On the opening day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series opener in Nagpur, India made a strong start, dismissing both Australian openers cheaply. Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami shone in the opening hour, while Marnus Labuschagne and Ravichandran Ashwin were involved in a lighthearted moment before lunch.
The incident occurred on the final delivery of the 22nd over, when Ashwin’s delivery hit Labuschagne on the body. Ashwin made a gesture with the ball spinning and turning away from the batter, which Labuschagne then replicated from the batting end. The moment provided a bit of levity amidst the tense situation on the field.
— Gajendra Singh Naruka (@imNaruka13) February 9, 2023
Despite the challenging Nagpur surface, Steve Smith and Labuschagne remained composed at the crease after the loss of two early wickets. The pair added 74 runs for the third wicket before lunch, stabilizing the Australian side. Labuschagne, playing in his first Test in India, appeared comfortable and showed potential to take the game to the Indian bowlers.
However, India missed an opportunity to dismiss Smith after he was dropped by Kohli in the slips. The match remains intriguing as both teams look to gain the upper hand in the highly anticipated Test series.
