Australia and South Africa are gearing up for the start of their three-match ODI series in Australia, but it was an off-field moment that grabbed fans’ attention ahead of the opener on Tuesday, August 19. In a photoshoot ahead of the series commencing, skippers Mitchell Marsh and Temba Bavuma posed with the ODI series trophy and the flags of their respective nations. But what truly broke the internet was the pair unexpectedly imitating Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic pose. With arms stretched wide and shoulders tilted, both captains recreated the trademark stance made famous by Khan on screen. The actor, adored by his several millions of fans in the country, won his maiden National Award for Best Actor for Jawan, a film that became a box-office blockbuster. The images quickly went viral on social media, leaving fans amused at the crossover moment between cricket and cinema.
Temba Bavuma and Mitchell Marsh imitating Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic pose (Picture credit – Cricket Australia)
Temba Bavuma and Mitchell Marsh with the ODI series trophy (Picture credit – Cricket Australia)
While the photoshoot provided a light-hearted moment, both sides head into the series with serious intent. Marsh will lead Australia. The all-rounder is not expecting much change in Australia’s aggressive batting approach, one that saw them claim a 2-1 T20I series win despite several early batting collapses.
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South Africa, meanwhile, welcome back Bavuma, who has recovered from a hamstring injury and returns to lead a refreshed squad. The Proteas have added five players for the ODIs, including spinner Keshav Maharaj, Test triple-centurion Wiaan Mulder and top-order batters Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi. Rising star Dewald Brevis, who lit up the T20Is with a 41-ball century in Darwin and a fifty in Cairns, could also make his ODI debut. As the cricketing rivalry resumes, the viral Shah Rukh Khan tribute has given the build-up an entertaining twist, adding an unexpected layer of colour to what promises to be a competitive series.
