Watch: Rohit Sharma reveals On-Field exchange with umpire in IND vs AFG 3rd T20I

In addition to his prowess with the bat, Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, is renowned for his occasional humorous remarks that often amuse fans. Though not intentionally comical, his laid-back style of expression seldom fails to bring a smile to the faces of supporters.

This characteristic was evident during India’s clash against Afghanistan in the third T20I in January. Rohit Sharma had endured a rough patch in the series, being dismissed for ducks in the first two games of the three-match series. Notably, this was his first T20I series since the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Expectations were high for the captain to make an impact in the shortest format of the game, but he struggled to get off the mark in the initial matches. Eager to open his account in the third T20I, Rohit found himself in a light-hearted dispute with the on-field umpire when the latter awarded leg byes after the right-handed batsman seemingly struck the ball for a boundary in the first over.

Confident that he had made contact with the ball, Rohit questioned the umpire’s decision, only realizing the ruling after the over had concluded and he glanced at the scoreboard.

Rohit Sharma Shares Comical Exchange with Umpire: The Inside Story

“Hey, Viru, was that given as leg-bye on the second ball? The bat made significant contact,” Rohit Sharma quipped to the umpire.

Reflecting on the incident during the inauguration of the third edition of the Khel Mahakhumbh in Bilaspur district on Tuesday (March 5), Rohit Sharma shed light on the humorous exchange.

“When you’ve registered two ducks, getting that first run becomes crucial. The ball had indeed struck the bat and reached the boundary, but the umpire perhaps didn’t see it and awarded leg byes instead. I don’t usually check the scoreboard while batting; my focus remains on my innings,” Rohit Sharma explained.

“After the over, I happened to glance at the scoreboard and noticed it still showed ‘Rohit Sharma on zero.’ I thought, ‘But I hit a boundary; why does it still say zero?'” he added.