[Watch] Staredown to charge: Jasprit Bumrah engages in mini-battle with Marnus Labuschagne in BGT 2024-25 2nd Test
India vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah engaged in a mini-battle with Marnus Labuschagne on Day 1 of the second Test against Australia in Adelaide on Friday, December 6. Bumrah stared at Labuschagne immediately after he took charge before backing down with his popular wordings - “No run.”
The incident took place in the 13th over of Australia’s first innings. Bumrah bowled a full-length ball and Labuschagne defended it back to the bowler. The speedster collected the ball and charged the batter, who had taken a couple of steps out of the crease, forcing him to go back inside.
Bumrah then bowled a jaffa off the next delivery and Labuschagne looked clueless. The bowler made a peculiar gesture as Labuschagne appreciated the delivery with a small bow.
Watch the video below:
Notably, Jasprit Bumrah had dismissed Labuschagne for just three runs in the second innings of the first Test in Perth, where India won by 295 runs to go 1-0 ahead in the five-game series.
“He plays under a lot of pressure” – Mohammed Siraj on under-fire Marnus Labuschagne
India pacer Mohammed Siraj recently said that Marnus Labuschagne is under pressure owing to his lean patch with the bat in Tests. The 30-year-old told Star Sports (via The Indian Express):
“I loved bowling to Marnus, enjoyed the battle because he plays under a lot of pressure. He tries to leave a lot of deliveries rather than trying to play at them. He defends and tries to show that he is confident. That is not really confidence. And my confidence is always high (laughs).”
Siraj had dismissed Labuschagne lbw for 2 (52) in the first innings of the series opener.
In 2024, Marnus Labuschagne has 254 runs in six Tests at an average of 25.40, including three half-centuries. The right-handed batter has registered eight single-digit scores in his last 10 innings, barring a 90 against New Zealand.
Follow the IND vs AUS 2024-25 2nd Test live score and updates here.