Watch: 'I'll tell you after the match': Shubman Gill Tells Marnus Labuschagne After The Latter Tried To Unsettle The Opener

Australians and sledging go hand-in-hand. The team from Down Under has been using the ploy for decades to unsettle the opposition batsmen. Surprisingly, they were unusually silent during the first two Tests of the ongoing series against India. But things seem be finally changing in the ongoing Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Banter and sledging have become an indispensable part of the India-Australia rivalry and the cricket world looks set to see the players finally taking aim at each other in the ongoing Test as the series heads for a thrilling finish. Before the start of the game, Australia captain Tim Paine had said there was “tension starting to boil under the surface”.

The wicketkeeper-batsman had hinted that the unusual harmony shown by the teams in the first two Tests might take the back seat in the ongoing game and so far, the signs are promising. On Friday, Marnus Labuschagne tried to get under the skin of Shubman Gill in just the third over of India’s first innings.

Shubman Gill was on strike, facing Mitchell Starc when Marnus Labuschagne decided to distract him by asking him about his favourite batsman. Fielding at short leg, Marnus Labuschagne asked Shubman Gill: ” Favourite player? Who’s your favourite player?

The young India opener decided to reply to the Australian but did not reveal the answer as he said: “I’ll tell you after the match.“

Marnus Labuschagne, however, was not done yet. With a wry smile on his face, he kept chirping and asked Shubman Gill: “After the match? Sachin? Or maybe Virat ?

Here is a clip of the incident:

Marnus just wants to know who Gill's favourite player is! ? #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/VvW7MixbQR

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 8, 2021

As far as the game is concerned, Australia have scored 338 in their first innings. Steve Smith led the charge with the bat for the hosts, scoring 131 before becoming the last Australian wicket to fall. For India, Ravindra Jadeja picked up four wickets while Navdeep Saini and Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets apiece.

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