Australia’s Mitchell Marsh has defended his controversial photo of him celebrating the team’s ODI World Cup 2023 victory by posing with his feet on top of the trophy. The 32-year-old all-rounder faced criticism from Indian fans and media for the gesture. Marsh explained that he hadn’t given the photo much thought and had not seen much of the social media reaction. He reiterated that there was no disrespect intended and that he was simply caught up in the moment of celebration.
“Yeah probably, to be honest,” Mitchell Marsh said when asked if he would do it again. “There was obviously no disrespect meant in that photo at all,” he added.
Following the ODI World Cup win, six members of the Australian team, including Marsh, remained in India to take part in the ongoing T20I series against India. Marsh expressed his disappointment that his teammates had to stay back instead of heading home to celebrate with their families and friends.
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“Yeah, it was pretty outrageous for the guys that had to stay behind,” Mitchell Marsh said. “It’s a fine line because we’ve got to respect the fact we’re playing for Australia and it’s a series against India which is always really big.”
However, Marsh also acknowledged the human side of the situation, understanding that the players deserved to celebrate the World Cup victory and spend time with their families. He suggested that there should not be too many series scheduled immediately after major tournaments to allow players a proper break.
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“But there’s also the human side of it, the boys have just won a World Cup and probably deserve to celebrate for a while and get home to their families. It’s an interesting one. You’d hope there’s not too many of those series put on after big tournaments again,” Mitchell Marsh added.
In conclusion, Marsh defended his trophy photo while expressing empathy for his teammates’ extended stay in India. He emphasized the importance of balancing professional commitments with personal well-being.
