Hang on… Isn’t this awfully similar to what sent the Twitterverse into meltdown over Steve Smith being a cheat just days ago?
Indian opener Rohit Sharma was pictured shadow batting – in the middle of the pitch – during Australia’s batting innings early on day four.
While social media users hurled abuse at the former Australian captain last week for scuffing the mark during Rishabh Pant’s innings, Indian fans have been quick to praise Sharma for his similar moves.
“You can take batting out of Rohit Sharma. But you cannot take Rohit Sharma out of batting. #Legend, one user wrote.
“Rohit Sharma is the coolest player in the team,” another added.
“Troll level: LEGEND,” an Indian fan wrote.
Some users have pointed out the Indian batsmen didn’t unscuff the Australian number four’s mark, however many arguments against Smith’s actions were built on the deck being ‘India’s domain’ during their batting innings.
But the same rule doesn’t seem to apply for India, with Sharma being entitled to stand in the middle of the pitch while it was Australia’s ‘domain’.
Fans were quick to point out the hypocrisy between the two scenarios.
“Cheat cheat cheat cheat let’s throw the book at him and make outrageous remarks!! Ohh wait, he’s Indian so he is protected species,” a user said.
“Its (sic) another shameful act of the series by Steve Smith as he is standing on the pitch when Rohit Sharma is clearly batting. #bansmith,” one sarcastically wrote.
“Did he rubbed (sic) the guard? No. Case closed,” one rebutted.
“But last match India said the pitch was the domain of the batter. He is unnecessarily on the pitch….seriously stop being so biased,” another shot back.
Smith and WA prodigy Cameron Green resumed batting after lunch on day four, after taking a 182-run lead to the first break.
