IND vs AUS: Ravichandran Ashwin and Marnus Labuschagne engage in hilarious exchange as visitors try to rebuild after early stutter

Team India made a sizzling start to the Border Gavaskar Trophy after dismissing both Australian openers cheaply on the opening day of the Test series opener in Nagpur. While Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami shared the limelight in the opening hour of the match, Marnus Labuschagne and Ravichandran Ashwin were entangled in a hilarious moment overs before the Lunch break.

The incident took place on the last delivery of the 22nd over of the match after Ravi Ashwin's delivery turned viciously to miss Marnus Labuschagne's inside edge and struck him on the body. The Indian bowling ace made a gesture of the bowl spinning and turning away from the batter and Labuschagne replicated the same from the batting end, making for hilarious viewing.

pic.twitter.com/QEtzkrA44j

— Gajendra Singh Naruka (@imNaruka13) February 9, 2023

Smith and Labuschagne make steady progress after losing Warner and Khawaja

Apparently, Ashwin's gesture was intended for Indian wicketkeeper KS Bharat who is making his Test debut in Nagpur, but Labuschagne got involved to add his own take on the delivery. Despite all the talk about the Nagpur surface being a minefield for the batters, Steve Smith and Labuschagne have looked composed at the crease after the fall of two early wickets.

The duo have looked solid for the visitors and India missed a glorious chance to dismiss Smith after he was dropped by Kohli in the slips. Meanwhile, Labuschagne, who is playing his first Test in India, has looked the part and is threatening to take the game to the Indian bowlers on a difficult pitch. They have added 74 runs for the thrid wicket up until the Lunch break, dragging their side to safety after losing Usman Khawaja and David Warner inside the first three overs of the match.

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