India keeper Dinesh Karthik has made a bold prediction and also told his fellow commentator and former Australia opener Mark Waugh to mark his words, as the first Test between India and Australia got underway in Nagpur on February 9.
Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat first on a pitch about which much was said and written on social media. However, they failed to make the most of their luck as Indian bowlers did well enough to bundle them out for 177 runs.
Marnus Labuschagne (49), Steve Smith (37), Alex Carey (36), and Peter Handscomb (31) were the main scorers for the visitors, while Ravindra Jadeja with 5/47 and R Ashwin with three wickets were the star bowlers for India.
In response, Rohit Sharma (56*) and KL Rahul (20) helped India to 77/1 at the end of day one.
Meanwhile, during the commentary on Star Sports, Dinesh Karthik and Mark Waugh got into a slight tussle of words on air.
Dinesh Karthik: “I do feel India will bat only once in the Test match.”
Mark Waugh: “We'll see about that DK, we'll see about that.”
Dinesh Karthik: “Mark my words, Mark.”
Mark Waugh: “What time is it? It's five past three. I'll write that in my diary. He could be right. It's not going to be easy, it's not going to be a stroll in the park.”
Dinesh Karthik: “But at the same time, it's not as tough as the Aussie batters made it out to be either.”
Mark Waugh: “All I'm saying is never judge a pitch until two sides have bat. Let's see how things unfold. It's a big session, Australia won't let India get away. These Indian Test batters are not as good as some of the Australians. I can't see two guys averaging 60."
Dinesh Karthik: “Well there was just one there in India, that average 60.”
Mark Waugh: “Rohit Sharma class player, Virat Kohli world-class, Pujara Thor in the side.”
It remains to be seen whether the Indian team stays true to what Karthik claimed on a pitch that might deteriorate as the play goes on.
(Star Sports and Hindustan Times inputs)
