The Ranji Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad witnessed a playful exchange of banter on Tuesday as the Mumbai Indians geared up to face the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their second IPL 2024 encounter. Former MI skipper Rohit Sharma added a touch of humor to the practice session by recreating Kolkata Knight Riders bowler Harshit Rana’s infamous flying-kiss send-off directed at Mayank Agarwal during SRH’s previous match against KKR.
In the clash between SRH and KKR at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Rana managed to break Mayank’s stride by dismissing him in the final over of the powerplay. To celebrate his achievement, Rana cheekily blew a flying kiss in Mayank’s direction, eliciting a reaction from the SRH batter.
During the practice session ahead of the MI vs SRH showdown, Rohit Sharma lightened the mood by mimicking Rana’s gesture, leaving Mayank Agarwal in stitches. The lighthearted moment was captured by the Sunrisers Hyderabad team and shared on social media with the caption: “Flying kisses and friendly rivalries.” However, the post was swiftly removed, although not before the images had gone viral across various platforms.
While the gesture was seen as a harmless jest by many, former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed disapproval of Rana’s antics during a televised commentary. Gavaskar criticized the young bowler, stating that such behavior was unnecessary and detracted from the spirit of the game. He emphasized the importance of maintaining decorum on the field, especially in the age of television.
The backlash against Rana’s celebration extended beyond the commentary box, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took disciplinary action against him for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. Rana was fined 10 percent and 50 percent of his match fees for two Level 1 offences under Article 2.5 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct. The young cricketer accepted the sanctions imposed by the Match Referee, bringing an end to the controversy surrounding his on-field antics.
As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the MI vs SRH clash, the playful banter between Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal adds an extra layer of intrigue to the highly anticipated encounter.
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