India posted 264/9 in the second ODI at the Adelaide Oval, recovering from early setbacks thanks to crucial fifties from Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. But what grabbed everyone’s attention wasn’t just the runs on the board — it was a controversial LBW call involving Rohit Sharma that sparked strong reactions, including one from former Australian opener Mark Waugh.
A High-Pressure Start for India
Coming into the match on the back of a defeat in Perth, India needed a strong foundation. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill took guard against a confident Australian bowling attack. However, the opening overs were anything but easy. Hazlewood and Cummins hit their lengths early, testing both openers with movement and bounce.
The Controversial LBW Moment
The big moment came in the sixth over. Josh Hazlewood sent down a good-length delivery outside off stump. Rohit, looking to break the shackles, went for an aggressive swing across the line but missed completely. The ball struck him on the pads and the Australians went up in a loud appeal.
The on-field umpire wasn’t convinced and turned the appeal down. But Australian captain Pat Cummins didn’t hesitate to send it upstairs. The UltraEdge replay showed a faint spike, indicating a possible inside edge. After a tense review, the third umpire stuck with the on-field call, much to Australia’s frustration.
Watching from the commentary box, Mark Waugh voiced his displeasure. “There was no way there was an inside edge,” he said, setting off a wave of debate on social media.
Early Wickets Rock India
The momentum briefly shifted Australia’s way soon after. Shubman Gill edged a delivery from young pacer Xavier Bartlett, who replaced Nathan Ellis, and was caught behind for 9 off 9 balls.
The crowd roared as Virat Kohli walked in to join Rohit, but the joy was short-lived. Kohli, surprisingly, fell for a four-ball duck, his second in a row in the series. Australia’s bowlers were all over India in the powerplay, sensing another early collapse.
Rohit and Iyer Lead the Fightback
Amid the chaos, Rohit Sharma held his nerve. Partnering with Shreyas Iyer, he rebuilt the innings with smart rotation of strike and timely boundaries. Both batters notched up half-centuries, steadying India’s innings at a crucial stage.
Later, Axar Patel’s 44 and a 37-run stand between Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh added valuable runs down the order. Their efforts helped India post a fighting total of 264/9 in 50 overs.
Talking Point of the Match
While India’s fightback deserves credit, the LBW call against Rohit Sharma has become the biggest talking point of the game. Mark Waugh’s reaction added fuel to the debate, with fans split over whether the decision was fair.
As the series heats up, this moment may well be remembered as one of the defining flashpoints of the tour.
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