‘I didn’t know this was a press conference’: Mark Waugh snaps at Indian commentator

After watching Australia capitulate in spectacular fashion against India once again, Mark Waugh was in no mood for a colleague’s “banter”.

Aussie cricket great Mark Waugh has snapped at Indian counterpart Dinesh Karthik in a testy exchange in the commentary box.

After witnessing Australia capitulate for 113 after losing 9/52 in the first 90 minutes of day three, Waugh was in no mood as Karthik asked him a series of questions about Australia’s field placings.

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It was 1/31 with Rohit Sharma and Chesteshwar Pujara batting when Karthik asked Waugh about the field the Aussies had in place.

Earlier, Waigh had said: ““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.”

It was a topic Karthik wanted to dig in on.

Karthik: “I know you’re not happy with the field set, let’s go – what are you talking about?”

Waugh: “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.”

The next shot from Pujara went through point.

Karthik: “Mark, if you had the point up that ball probably would have gone to the boundary.”

Waugh: “If you had point up, it would have gone straight to him in the circle.”

Karthik: “You don’t think he would have found the gap on that one? He had time.”

Waugh: “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.”

Mark Waugh wasn’t happy. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Karthik: “But there’s not for Rohit Sharma, not talking about that?”

Waugh: “We’re not talking about Rohit Sharma. he’s a completely different player DK.”

Sanjay Manjrekar must have felt it getting a bit testy in the box as he interjected with a score update.

But the pair weren’t done there.

Karthik: “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: “I didn’t know this was a press conference.”

Karthik: “It’s a bit of banter.”

Waugh: “I'm going to limit your questions per session, you’re going to get one question right? No more.”

There was then some silence on the coverage before the next ball went for six and the topic moved on.

By the sounds of it, Waugh, who had said Australia “couldn’t have batted worse” earlier as they were bowled out for 113, might not have been enjoying watching his nation demolished by India.

Karthik was a former Indian star. Photo by Trevor Collens / AFP

But the awkward exchange didn’t escape everyone as social media was divided on the exchange.

Aussie journalist Stephen Quartermain tweeted: “The sycophantic TV commentary in this #INDvAUS series is really hard to cope with. Thank goodness for Mark Waugh.”

The best commentary is a mix of feeling like you're part of the conversation and a hint of simmering tension.

Dinesh Karthik & Mark Waugh have certainly got the simmering tension today.

— Mark Puttick (@GryllidaeC) February 19, 2023

The only highlight is Mark Waugh carving up the cocky Indian commentators....

— Darren Gilmore 🇦🇺 (@darrengilmore6) February 19, 2023

Mark Waugh's feeling are being hurt by @DineshKarthik's questioning. Tears! #INDvAUS

— Harshal 🏏 (@Harshal_de) February 19, 2023

Mark Waugh is so disgustingly rude and defensive towards DK @FoxCricket#INDvAUS

— William Polak 🌐 (@willpolak) February 19, 2023

Mark Waugh is so cranky in the commentary box. If only the current 11 were showing the same combative nature. #INDvAUS

— Paul Zauch (@PaulZauch) February 19, 2023

The only Aussie who’s going to go down fighting will be Mark Waugh, the man’s under the cosh and he’s letting it out. Don’t think DK will have another question for him again.

— Sherry Joshua (@Joshsherry85) February 19, 2023

Originally published as ‘I didn’t know this was a press conference’: Mark Waugh snaps at Indian commentator