Team India is taking on Australia in the all-important WTC Final 2023 at the Kennington Oval in London. On the second day of the WTC final, Indian pacer Mohammed Shami made a huge LBW appeal against Alex Carey after which skipper Rohit Sharma made a hilarious gesture as if he wanted a DRS review and eventually led to some confusion on the field.
Australian batters dominated the Indian bowling lineup on Day 1 as Steve Smith and Travis Head made a formidable partnership for the fourth wicket. However, the Indian pacers made a comeback in the first session of Day 2 of the WTC final 2023.
Rohit Sharma’s naughty DRS gesture during WTC final 2023 leads to confusion
The Men in Blue got two early wickets on Day 2 as Mohammad Siraj dismissed Travis Head and then Mohammed Shami got rid of Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green. Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey then came in to bat at the number 6 position after Green’s dismissal.
Experienced pacer Shami made sure to keep the Aussie wicketkeeper under some pressure right from the word go. The 5th delivery of the 97th over nipped back sharply into Carey’s pads as the Indian fielders made a huge appeal but the umpire rejected their appeal after which they decided not to take DRS.
On the next delivery of the same over, Mohammed Shami bowled an absolutely similar delivery which was pitched on length and nipped back in. Shami again made a loud appeal and on-field umpire Chris Gaffaney didn’t raise his finger this time as well.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma straightaway ran towards keeper KS Bharat to discuss whether he should go for the DRS review. Rohit then made a cheeky gesture as if he was signalling for the review but then gesticulated that he was showing the kind of swing Shami’s delivery got.
— Cricket Punter (@ImRahulCSK11) June 8, 2023
After some confusion initially, Rohit Sharma made it clear to the umpires that he didn’t signal for the DRS review. While Alex Carey remained on the crease after two successive LBW appeals, the Indian pacers kept dominating Australian batters and Shardul Thakur got rid of Steve Smith.
Substitute fielder Axar Patel dismissed Mitchell Starc with a brilliant direct hit at the non-striker’s end as Team India got their fourth success in the first session of Day 2 of the WTC final 2023. Australia eventually posted a total of 422-7 in 109 overs at the end of the first session.
