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Rohit Sharma and Labuschagne (Photo Source: Twitter)
What could be termed as a prelude to the much-anticipated clash in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, Australia’s rising star, Marnus Labuschagne, has heaped praise on India’s dynamic skipper Rohit Sharma. As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the showdown between these cricketing powerhouses on October 8th in Chennai, Labuschagne’s insights into Sharma’s prowess have added an extra layer of intrigue to the contest.
Labuschagne, who earned his ticket to the World Cup squad after a scintillating run against South Africa and India in September, couldn’t help but commend India opener’s batting finesse. Speaking to FOX Cricket in an exclusive interview, Labuschagne acknowledged Sharma’s ability to pile on the runs without assuming excessive risks.
“Rohit Sharma is someone who scored quite freely without taking any risks. He’s very hard to stop once get going,” said Labuschagne.
The India skipper’s recent form has been nothing short of impressive, with a stellar 81-run knock against Australia in the final ODI match leading up to the World Cup. The Australia batting all-rounder, who had the privilege of facing Sharma during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier, expressed his eagerness to observe the Indian captain closely and absorb as much knowledge as possible.
“As I said to Rohit out there when we were walking. I said ‘I am watching whatever you do, I want to learn. You guys are the best in these conditions. We are foreign to these conditions. You learn from the opposition, you learn from the way they do it. We try and learn and grow with each game,” he added.
Marnus Labuschagne’s comeback at the final moment
The 29-year-old’s journey to the World Cup squad was not straightforward, as he wasn’t initially included in Australia’s roster. However, two stellar innings against South Africa turned the tide in his favor. His consistency against India, scoring 39, 27, and a remarkable 72, made his late inclusion into the squad all the more sensational.
Initially omitted from the expansive 18-member squad back in August, Marnus has emphatically forced his way into contention. This Queensland sensation’s inclusion in the squad now grants him the opportunity to occupy the pivotal No. 4 batting position, while Mitch Marsh assumes the opening role in the early stages of the tournament.
