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From Rohit Forgetting His Bat To Labuschagne Sleeping In Balcony, Top 5 Bizarre Pre-Batting Antics Of Cricketers - In Pics

In a series of bizarre incidents before stepping onto the pitch for the highly anticipated WTC Final, cricketers found themselves engaging in peculiar activities. From Rohit Sharma's forgetfulness to Marnus Labuschagne's unconventional nap on the balcony, here are the top five strange things cricketers did moments before their crucial batting innings. Take a look at these intriguing snapshots capturing the moments before the players took centre stage.

Akash Kharade|

Updated:Jun 10, 2023, 04:36 PM IST

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"Sleeping on Duty: Marnus Labuschagne Dozes Off on Balcony during WTC Final"

In the ongoing WTC Final clash between India and Australia, Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne had an unexpected snooze on the balcony while his teammates Usman Khawaja and David Warner were in the middle. Labuschagne's impromptu nap came to an end when Warner nicked a delivery from Mohammed Siraj to the wicket-keeper, alerting him that it was his turn to bat.

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"Toilet Seats and Superstitions: Neil McKenzie's Peculiar Pre-Batting Rituals"

Former South African batsman Neil McKenzie had some unique superstitions before stepping out to bat. Prior to his innings, McKenzie would ensure that all the toilet seats in the dressing room were down. Additionally, he preferred the lights to be turned off. McKenzie even once revealed that he taped his bat to the ceiling and went on to score a century in his next innings, leading him to continue the ritual for a few more matches.

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"Shower Surprise: Kapil Dev's Memorable Rush to the Crease"

Renowned Indian captain Kapil Dev found himself in an unexpected situation during a 1983 World Cup group stage match against Zimbabwe. While taking a shower, Dev's teammates urgently knocked on his door, informing him that it was his turn to bat. Padded up in haste, Dev hurried to the middle and ended up smashing an unbeaten 175 runs, leaving an indelible mark on cricket history.

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"Team Effort: How Five Players Helped Sourav Ganguly Get Ready to Bat"

During a Test match between India and South Africa in Cape Town in 2007, a peculiar circumstance arose when VVS Laxman was occupied with a shower while his turn-to-bat approached. Sachin Tendulkar was momentarily stopped from going out due to a timing restriction, prompting Sourav Ganguly to step in. However, Ganguly was unprepared. In a collective effort, five other players assisted him by providing his shirt, trousers, bat, and helping him with his pads, ensuring he could quickly join the game.

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"Batless Blunder: Rohit Sharma's Forgetful Moment on the Field"

In an unusual occurrence, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma once forgot to bring his bat when he walked out to bat during a practice match against Western Australia. Sharma, already wearing his gloves, had crossed the boundary rope when he was called back by someone from the dressing room who handed him his bat, saving him from an embarrassing moment.