World Cup 2023: Just like Shadab Khan, Marnus Labuschagne also admits his admiration for Rohit Sharma

World Cup 2023: With the World Cup 2023 knocking at the door, Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne has doffed his hat to India captain Rohit Sharma and said that the star opener is hard to stop once he gets into the rhythm.

Notably, Rohit Sharma, who was rested for the first two ODIs against Australia, blasted 80 runs off just 81 runs off 57 balls with the help of five fours and six sixes in the third ODI in Rajkot on Wednesday, September 27.

The 36-year-old batter was at his devastating best hitting boundaries for fun. The innings also saw Rohit hit his famous pull shot to perfection on multiple occasions.

"Rohit Sharma is someone who scored quite freely without taking any risks. He's very hard to stop once get going," Marnus Labuschagne told FOX Cricket.

Shadab Khan also praised Rohit Sharma

On Sunday, Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan also expressed his admiration for Rohit Sharma, admitting that he finds him the most difficult batter to bowl to.

"I admire Rohit Sharma a lot and among the leading batsmen in the world he is the most difficult to bowl to. Once he gets set he becomes very dangerous," said Shadad Khan in a press conference in Hyderabad. The leg-spinner was at the receiving end when Rohit Sharma hit four sixes and six fours en route to his 49-ball 56 against Pakistan in the Super Fours round of the Asia Cup 2023.

Labuschagne's admiration for Rohit Sharma not new

Marnus Labuschagne's admiration for the 'Hitman' is not new. He was closely observing the superstar batter during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year.

"We got to continue to learn and make sure the first Test, the second Test is all not the same. We need to keep learning," Labuschagne had told Star Sports.

"As I said to Rohit out there when we were walking. I said 'I am watching whatever you do, I want to learn. You guys are the best in these conditions. We are foreign to these conditions’. You learn from the opposition, you learn from the way they do it. We try and learn and grow with each game," he had added.

Marnus Labuschagne broke into Australia's World Cup 2023 squad after replacing injured Steve Smith in the 5-match ODI series against South Africa and finishing as the leading run-scorer there. He was not named in the side's preliminary World Cup squad.

He scored 146 runs in three matches at an average of 46 against India, further forcing the selectors to drop Ashton Agar to make room for him in Australia's World Cup squad.