IND vs AUS: 'Believe in Myself And Not Superstitions' - Jaiswal Tells Starc as Bail Switching Antics Return at MCG

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Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mitchell Starc involved in an exchange of words as the bail-switching antics returned in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the final day of a gripping fourth Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

On Monday (December 30) morning, as India battled early set back in their run chase of 340 at the MCG, a small exchange of bail took place with Jaiswal and Starc, who have had a fair few exchanges in the series, having a go at it.

In a video shared on X by several accounts, including Star Sports, Starc decided to resort to bail-switching antics in the 35th over, when signs of the threat posed by Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant became prominent.

As he returned to his bowling marker, Starc switched the bails at the non-striker's end. Jaiswal spotted it and restored the bails to their original position. Starc looked back and had a huge smile on his face. After the next delivery, he even said a couple of words to Jaiswal.

Also during the little exchange when the bails was replaced to it's original position, Starc asked Jaiswal, "Superstitious, what are you trying there?", to which the Indian batter responded, "I believe in myself, that's why I'm here, no."

So, Starc replied, "So, what are you chanhing that for, if not your superstition?". "I'm just enjoying this moment in my life," the Indian batter replied in the video posted by Star Sports on X with audio picked up from the stump mic.

The duo have been involved in a lot of exchanges during this series with the Indian opener provoking Starc, saying "It's coming slow" during the Perth Test. The Australian pace spearhead responded by removing the Indian opener off the first ball of the Adelaide Test.

Before Jaiswal-Starc bails episode, Mohammed Siraj and Marnus Labuschagne were involved in the bail-switching antics during the third Test, when the Indian pacer Siraj changed the bails, hoping for a change of luck, but Labuschagne was quick to react and returned them to their original place.

The pair's banter continued in the Boxing Day Test, where Siraj switched the bails and called Marnus to show him his recent craft in the 43rd over. Moments later, Usman Khawaja fell to Jasprit Bumrah while trying to pull away the ball but failed to get the proper timing and elevation behind his shot.

As the bail-switching tricks continued on Day 5, India are in chase of a mammoth 340-run target. After Rohit Sharma's dismissal, everything fell apart for the Indian team. KL Rahul joined the Indian skipper in the same over for a five-ball duck.

Virat Kohli lost his discipline and got lured into playing a drive by left-armer Mitchell Starc on the final ball before lunch. Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant offered stability and assurance by leading the charge against the Australian bowling attack.

Boundaries became more frequent, with Australian bowlers feeling tiredness creep up to them with each passing over. However, post the tea break, Australia inched closer to a win by removing Jaiswal, Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Reddy.