In the world of cricket, it’s not just the game on the field that captivates the fans. Sometimes, it’s the moments of camaraderie and good-natured banter that add a unique charm to the sport. Such was the case when Mitchell Marsh, the 31-year-old hard-hitting all-rounder from the Australia National Cricket Team, engaged in a delightful banter with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, a batting great from the India National Cricket Team. This exchange occurred after the intense World Cup clash between Australia and Sri Lanka, and it left everyone in splits.

The 14th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 took place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. It was a face-off between the Pat Cummins-led Australia National Cricket Team and the Kusal Mendis-led Sri Lanka National Cricket Team. The contest promised high-octane action, and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. Their openers, Pathum Nissanka (61) and Kusal Perera (78) set the stage on fire with a splendid batting display. Their partnership frustrated the Australian bowlers and built a solid foundation for their team.

Amid the Sri Lankan onslaught, the responsibility to break this opening stand fell on the shoulders of the Australian captain, Pat Cummins. And he delivered. Cummins dismissed Nissanka, which not only ended a threatening partnership but also opened the floodgates. Sri Lanka started losing wickets at regular intervals, and they were eventually bowled out for 209 runs in 43.3 overs.

In response, Australia faced early setbacks as they lost key wickets, including those of Steve Smith and David Warner, in just the 4th over. However, Mitchell Marsh stepped up to the plate and showcased his power-hitting prowess. His quickfire 52 runs provided the stability that the team needed.

After Marsh’s dismissal, Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne took charge of the innings. They combined forces and added 77 crucial runs to steer Australia closer to the target. In the end, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis sealed the deal, guiding Australia to a five-wicket victory.

Following Australia’s first win in the World Cup 2023, there was a post-match discussion featuring a panel of experts, including the legendary Sunil Gavaskar. The atmosphere was festive and relaxed, providing the perfect backdrop for an amusing exchange.

Sunil Gavaskar couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease Mitchell Marsh and decided to playfully ask him a question about his father’s influence on his playing style.

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Sunil Gavaskar: “Didn’t your father ever teach you to play like this (shows a defensive shot)?”

Mitchell Marsh, with a mischievous grin, responded in a manner that left everyone present laughing.

Mitchell Marsh: “I’m just making up for all his poor strike rates.”

Notably, Mitchell Marsh’s father, Geoff Marsh, is a former Australian cricketer who played 50 Tests and 117 ODIs for his country. In Tests, Geoff had a strike rate of 35.13, while in ODIs, it was 55.93. In contrast, Mitchell Marsh boasts a more aggressive strike rate of 52.79 in Tests and an impressive 93.85 in ODIs.

A fascinating aspect worth noting is that Geoff Marsh is only the third Test player in cricket history, after Walter Hadlee and Lala Amarnath, to have two sons play Test cricket.

The post “Didn’t your father ever teach you to play…”: Mitchell Marsh Gave Hilarious Reply To Sunil Gavaskar On His Playful Banter appeared first on CricInformer.