Twitterati react to Rohit Sharma shadow-batting in front of Steve Smith during the Brisbane Test
It took place on the fourth day’s play when Smith was batting with Cameron Green with the hosts’ lead around 180.
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Steve Smith, the Australian batsman, has had a topsy-turvy run in the 2020-21 edition of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. He started the tour with 10 runs in the first two Tests in Adelaide and Melbourne. However, in the Sydney Test, the 31-year-old found his mojo back with a knock of 131 and 81, earning him the Player of the Match award in the drawn game.
But despite his show with the bat, the New South Wales-born got himself tangled in controversy. Smith was alleged for deliberately scuffing up Rishabh Pant’s guard marks. His actions didn’t go down well with the netizens. The likes of Michael Vaughan and many others came down hard on him.
Rohit imitates Steve Smith
In the meantime, Rohit Sharma, during the fourth Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, was seen shadow-batting at the striker’s end. It took place on the fourth day’s play when Smith was batting with Cameron Green with the hosts’ lead around 180. In the meantime, Twitterati opined on Rohit’s action. A few of them also backed Smith.
Here’s how the users on Twitter reacted: –
Meanwhile Smith to Rohit:#AUSvsIND https://t.co/sA5SDMZqva pic.twitter.com/TGUnw1dEfa
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 18, 2021
Rohit Sharma doing a Steve Smith, shadow practicing in the middle as Steve Smith observes him #AusvIND pic.twitter.com/IwsqU6mYRN
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) January 18, 2021
I'd like to think Rohit was mocking Smith here. No other reason to do this in the very same Test 😄 https://t.co/4oGXSYgBiO
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) January 18, 2021
You see it’s not only @stevesmith49 who shadow bats at the crease when he’s in the field! #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/7MEGcA6pf0
— simon hughes (@theanalyst) January 18, 2021
A- think Rohit did it coz smith was watching.
B- even if he did it, he did it right handed
C- he didn’t try scuffing up anyone’s guard.
D- let’s move on, not a huge deal but we all know what tried in Sydney.— Raj Malhi (@Raj08955019) January 18, 2021
Rohit mocking Smith.. Smith staring. 😂#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/y61Hg3F64d
— Trrrro Leeee (@JasB_Lee) January 18, 2021
There is a difference in shadow batting and scuffing 😂 rohit was trolling smith btw😂😂
— Divyansh Bansal (@DI_VY_AN_SH) January 18, 2021
#Smith erased #Rishab guard lines when no one is watching…#Rohit erasing Smith's line infront of Smith…
.
Smartest way of revenge 👌👌😂😂
Rohit On fire mode pic.twitter.com/7N3MNMdHan— பருப்பு பாயாசம் (@Rajnivijay4) January 18, 2021
This is the right way to tease Steve Smith
Meanwhile Rohit Sharma to Steve smith pic.twitter.com/Mn02hDgFE7— Bhavesh Sangwan (@bhavesh_sangwan) January 18, 2021
Rohit teaching the correct way of Shadow batting to Smith. #AUSvIND
— Aditya Saha (@adityakumar480) January 18, 2021
#INDvsAUSTest #AUSvsIND
Le Steve #Smith to Indian fans after #Rohit doing shadow batting pic.twitter.com/J2YE3uHoe2— Harshit Rana (@Harsholgy) January 18, 2021
You can take batting out of Rohit Sharma. But you cannot take Rohit Sharma out of batting. #Legend pic.twitter.com/slZbMJKEkA
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) January 18, 2021
This is what is called Sledge!
Even without speaking a single words Rohit spoke many to Smith! 😂
Just don't know why hindi commentators kept saying he is practicing his bat or analysing pitch?
Great 2nd session coming up! #INDvsAUSTest #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/eDLtMLFFid— Ritwik Shah (@RitwikShah6) January 18, 2021
Me to Rohit Sharma after he teases Steve Smith:#smith #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/R1giP9Phuo
— Ayush Goyal (@Aatish_writes) January 18, 2021
Look at Steve Smith watching Rohit Sharma doing shadow batting 😂#INDvsAUSTest pic.twitter.com/wpp3FroTlB
— UrMiL07™ (@urmilpatel30) January 18, 2021
After the uproar, Smith was utterly disappointed and said that it wasn’t for the purpose of disturbing Pant’s momentum. He also got backing from head coach Justin Langer, also a former Australian left-handed batsman.
“It’s something I do in games to visualize where we are bowling, how the batter is playing our bowlers, and then out of habit I always mark center. It’s such a shame that this and other events have taken away from what was a great batting performance by India yesterday,” Smith was quoted as saying.
“He’s 100% innocent. He was just standing on the crease in his own little world, his own little Steve Smith world. We’ve joked about it for the last couple of years how he’s a bit different and a bit weird with what he does with his batting stuff,” Langer said.
“He shadow bats whether he’s in the shower or in the bedroom, he does it all the time. On that wicket we just played on, you’d need 15-inch spikes to even put a little mark on the crease,” he added.
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