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On the third day of the 2nd Test between India and Australia in Delhi on February 19 (Sunday), former Australian batter Mark Waugh and Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik indulged in a heated argument on air while on commentary duties for host broadcasters. With Australia on the brink of a comprehensive defeat, Waugh expressed his displeasure on Pat Cummins' field placement. The former Aussie batter was particularly annoyed by the Baggy Greens' skipper not deploying a fielder at silly mid-off.
"I'm astounded at this field, honestly. I cannot believe you would not have a silly mid-off. You've got 100 something runs on the board, you've got Pujara who is struggling for runs, he does pad the ball away a lot on the off side. Surely you can have a bat pad off side," Waugh said on air.
Thereon, Karthik pestered Waugh with a series of questions, and then came a point when the latter seemed to have lost his composure, forcing fellow commentator Sanjay Manjrekar to step in and ease tension.
After Waugh voices his displeasure on the field placement by Cummins, Karthik started by asking, "I know you're not happy with the field set, let's go – what are you talking about?"
In reply to Karthik's query, Waugh said, "I want a bat pad off-side and I want my point up and sort of a coaching cover, that can stay there, that would be a reasonable field."
After further chatter, Waugh admitted, "We obviously think different but if I'm playing against Pujara, I want a bat-pad off-side because I think he's a big chance of squeezing one out there."
Karthik came up with another response and quizzed Waugh, "But there's not for Rohit Sharma, not talking about that?"
From thereon Waugh's irritation was ominous as he said, "We're not talking about Rohit Sharma. he's a completely different player DK."
Karthik continued to hurl questions at the Aussie and asked, "So you're happy with the field? There's nobody for Rohit Sharma, you're okay with that? You'd do the same as a captain?"
Waugh responded by saying. "I didn't know this was a press conference."
With tension rising, Karthik replied, "It's a bit of banter."
Waugh didn't like Karthik's response and said, "I'm going to limit your questions per session, you're going to get one question, right? No more."
Thereafter Manjrekar stepped in and said, "Ok, I'm going to step in here," and read out the score.
India defeated Australia by six wickets and Pujara, who was playing his 100th Test, scored the winning runs for the host.
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