The crowd at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium has gotten into the act during the 2nd Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test, and there has been some fan sleaze as well. A video on social media has gone viral showing fans taunting Australian fielders with “Sandpaper” chants, in reference to the infamous ball-tampering scandal of 2018.
Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft all received lengthy bans as a result of the incident. Smith and Warner were fired as captain and vice-captain, respectively, and while the former has since become Test team vice-captain, Warner remains barred from holding leadership positions by Cricket Australia.
Here is the video of fans chanting
Sandpaper ?? pic.twitter.com/P0nUo1Xdx9
— Jahazi (@Oye_Jahazi) February 18, 2023
However, the Indian spectators have not been entirely negative. There have also been videos of fans cheering for Warner, who plays in the Indian T20 League for the Delhi franchise. On Day 1, there were several cheers for Usman Khawaja throughout his innings as well.
The second Test between India and Australia has been a thrilling contest, with both sides going blow for blow. For much of the second day, the Australians appeared to be in control before Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin turned the tide in India’s favour. The Australians have since made a quick start to their second innings.
On an eventful day two of the second Test, all-rounder Axar hit a counter-attacking 74 before Australia bowled out the hosts for 262 with Nathan Lyon returning figures of 5/67. The hosts surrendered a one-run lead, but a crucial eighth-wicket partnership of Axar and Ashwin (37) closed the gap on Australia’s first innings total after they fell to 139/7.
With the second new ball, captain Pat Cummins finally broke the stand, with Matt Renshaw, a concussion substitute for David Warner, taking Ashwin’s catch at square leg. Axar’s brave knock was ended by Cummins’ stunner at mid-on off Todd Murphy, and fellow spinner Matthew Kuhnemann ended the Indian innings in the final session.
