Watch: Bat slip after Mohammed Siraj's fiery bouncer leaves Marnus Labuschagne shaken during WTC final Day 1

Marnus Labuschagne, the talented Australian batsman, found himself in a challenging situation during the first session of the World Test Championship final against India. After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Indian captain Rohit Sharma's decision paid dividends early on when Mohammed Siraj dismissed the in-form Usman Khawaja in the fourth over.

Stepping onto the field, Labuschagne was faced with the task of resurrecting the Australian innings. However, he struggled to cope with the formidable Indian pace attack on the lively Kennington Oval pitch. In the eighth over, Labuschagne faced a testing delivery from Mohammed Siraj that unexpectedly gained extra bounce, striking him on the hand. The impact caused him to lose balance and drop his bat on the ground, signaling momentary discomfort.

Here's the video; 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ICC (@icc)

Despite the pain, Labuschagne exhibited resilience and determination, choosing to continue his innings. He valiantly battled through adversity, demonstrating his commitment to the team's cause. At the time of writing, Labuschagne had amassed 12 runs off 30 deliveries.

Surviving the challenging first session of the WTC final would be crucial for Labuschagne and the Australian team. The pitch, favoring fast bowlers, coupled with overcast conditions, provided a stern test for the batsmen. However, Labuschagne's tenacity and technique have been his strengths throughout his career, enabling him to navigate difficult situations.

WTC final hangs in balance after 1st session

At the end of the first session, Labuschagne stands at the crease at 26. Steven Smith came on after David Warner's dismissal. At the end of the first session, Australia are at 73/2 in 23 overs. Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur are the two wicket-takers for India.

Earlier Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first. He also shocked the entirety of the cricketing fraternity by dropping number 1 Test bowler Ravi Ashwin from the playing XI for the important WTC final against Australia.

This is India's back-to-back WTC final. In 2022, they lost to New Zealand in the final.