Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne shares experience of Indian players’ sledging in ODI World Cup 2023 final

Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne provided insights into the intense on-field atmosphere during the ODI World Cup 2023 final against India. Labuschagne played a crucial role in Australia’s triumph, contributing an unbeaten 58* in a match-winning partnership of 192 runs for the fourth wicket with Travis Head.

Marnus Labuschagne’s account of verbal exchanges in ODI World Cup Final

Labuschagne’s arrival at the crease was met with hostility from the Indian players, after the dismissal of Steve Smith. He encountered a charged atmosphere with Virat Kohli‘s sarcastic clapping and verbal exchanges with Shreyas Iyer. Despite the verbal jousting, the 29-year-old maintained his composure, displaying an icy cool demeanor that belied the intense pressure of a World Cup final.

In his newsletter titled ‘My World Cup Final Wrap,’ Labuschagne recounted the memorable moments of the final and discussed the welcome from Indian players.

“It was so loud and the wave of momentum India had was immense. The Indian team were getting into me and all I could say back, and very truthfully at that, was ‘I actually can’t hear what you’re saying over the crowd’. On this bus ride to the ground, there were fans lining the streets from about 5km out. It was amazing to see the fans get behind the game like they did” Labuschagne was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

It was all over when Kohli sledged Marnus Labuschagne #WorldcupFinal #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/bl2F6NSZge

— ᴜ. (@Ukhattak01) November 19, 2023

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Labuschagne reflects on the importance of Rohit Sharma’s wicket

He also conversed about the pin-drop silence in Ahmedabad when Kohli was dismissed by Pat Cummins. However, Labuschagne highlighted the wicket of Indian captain Rohit Sharma as a pivotal moment in the game, underscoring the significance of key breakthroughs in shaping the course of the match.

“Standing in the middle of a giant stadium with 130,000 fans in it who all went silent at this moment. We all just stood in the team huddle and took it in for a moment. “It was huge in the context of the game. For Maxi to throw it up like he did and tempt Rohit into the shot, and then Heady to take this grab. It was massive,” the Klerksdorp-born cricketer concluded.

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