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Without a doubt, any Test series between India and Australia is never short of entertainment as both the teams give their 100% to emerge victorious. The case is no different in the ongoing series as both the teams are competing hard against each other in every single aspect of the game, be it batting or bowling or fielding or even sledging.
Gone are the days that the Indian team will quietly take all the sledges without giving it back. The current team under Virat Kohli is known to give it back to the opposition and they are giving the Aussies a taste of their own medicine in the series.
The Aussies, on the other hand, are giving it back to the Indians. The wicketkeepers of both the teams, Tim Paine and Rishabh Pant are having a good time behind the stumps with their banter and on occasions, the host broadcasters are just letting them do the commentary whenever they are up to the stumps.
There were a lot of banters/ sledges throughout the series. Let us take a look at every single sledging incident that has taken place in the first three matches.
Rishabh Pant-Pat Cummins, Adelaide
It all started with this in the ongoing Test series. In the fourth innings of the first Test, Australians were given a target of 323 runs to win the Test and eventually ended up losing the match by 31 runs. When Pat Cummins walked out to bat on day 5 of the match, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant got the sledging underway in this series as he was constantly in Cummins' ears when he was standing up to the stumps to R Ashwin.
During the 76th over of the Australian innings, Pant was trying to get under Cummins' skin as he was heard saying, "It's not easy to survive man", "Come on Pat, hit some sixes", "Keep bowling in the patch to Pat (to Ashwin)", "Come on Pat, you’re not putting the bad ball away".
Also read: Let’s see some sixes, Rishabh Pant sledges Pat Cummins
Earlier in the match, he was in Usman Khawaja's ears when he said "Not everyone is Pujara here" a couple of balls before Khawaja threw his wicket away.
Virat Kohli-Tim Paine, Perth
Virat Kohli made his presence felt in Perth as he scored a brilliant 123 to reduce the deficit on day 3 of the Test but still conceded a lead of 40-off in the first innings.
Australia kicked off day 4 with a huge 175 runs lead with left-handed batsman Usman Khawaja and skipper Tim Paine looking solid the crease. With the pair set, Kohli tried to heat things up by exchanging some words with Paine.
Indians appealed in unision to send Paine back but the umpire was not convinced about the wicket and Kohli decided against reviewing it. But, he ensured that he reminded Paine about it as he went to him and said, "If he messes this up it is 2-0 and who’s going to talk then?" for which the Aussie skipper came up with a hilarious reply saying, "You’ve got to bat first big head." as Kohli went back to his fielding position.
Also read: Virat Kohli and Tim Paine engage in a hilarious banter during the 2nd Test
Later, Kohli tried to come in Paine's path when the latter was taking a single whether it is unclear whether Kohli intended it or it was just a coincidence. Things were getting heated up and the umpires interfered and brought things under control.
Also read: Umpires step in to stop the physical battle between Virat Kohli and Tim Paine
Tim Paine-Murali Vijay, Perth
There was a lot of tension between Virat Kohli and his Australian counterpart Tim Paine in Perth. Virat Kohli's wicket was very crucial for Austalia in the fourth innings in which the visitors were chasing 287 to win the match.
Thankfully for Australia, Kohli nicked Nathan Lyon to Usman Khawaja at first slip for 17 off 40 balls to leave India reeling at 48 for 3. That's when Tim Paine got his banter underway and his first shot was at Murali Vijay targetting Virat Kohli.
While Vijay was preparing to face a delivery from Lyon, Paine was heard saying, “Murali, I know he’s your captain but you can’t seriously like him? You can’t seriously like the bloke.”
Also read: Just good banter – Australia and India not concerned by Paine-Kohli exchange
Marcus Harris-Rishabh Pant, Perth
After setting a target of 287 in the second Test, India lost half their side very early and Rishabh Pant and Hanuma Vihari were given the tough task of closing out the play on day 4 without any further hiccup.
In the last over of the day, Tim Paine brought in Marcus Harris to field at FSL and when he was preparing himself to field in that position, he was trying to provoke Pant as he said, “If you get out you can go and disco tonight. Good circuit on a Monday night in Perth.”
Pant ignored it completely and successfully saw off the day in Perth but that wasn't enough as Australia rolled past India early on day 5.
Nathan Lyon-Hanuma Vihari and Ishant Sharma, Perth
Australians were on the verge of winning the second Test when play resumed on day 5 in Perth. Nathan Lyon was creating a lot of problems to the Indian batsmen with the ball in hand and decided to make life difficult with the mouth as well.
As Australia were closing in on the win, the Aussie offie had a few verbal exchanges and this time, Hanuma Vihari and Ishant Sharma were at the receiving end.
“Where are you going for your Christmas holiday? I hear Hamilton Island is a nice place,” Lyon said to Vihari.
A few overs later, Ishant walked out to bat and was looking to take guard and Lyon, after seeing this, asked, “Ishant what do you want? What are you looking for?”
Tim Paine-Rohit Sharma, Melbourne
On day 2 of the fourth Test, Rohit Sharma walked out to bat with an uncertainty over his Test future and Aussie skipper tried to use this to his advantage as he tried to get under Rohit's skin and plot his downfall in the first innings.
In a bid to take an extra wicket before Tea, Paine started a conversation with the FSL fielder Aaron Finch and tried to charge Rohit up and the funny conversation was picked up on the stump-mic.
Paine was heard saying (to Finch), "it’s been a toss up for me between Royals and Indians, and if Rohit hits a six here, I am changing to Mumbai." A couple of balls later, he said, "too many Poms at the Royals" referring to the presence of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and possible Jofra Archer in Rajasthan Royals.
Also read: Tim Paine sledges Rohit Sharma with a hilarious conversation with Aaron Finch
Rohit remained calm while batting and prior to the start of third day's play, Rohit admitted hearing Paine's banter and responded in style. He said, "I was hearing that but when I'm batting, I just focus on the job at hand. But, I had a chat with Ajinkya Rahane and I joked that if he (Paine) gets a hundred here, I will put in a word about him to my boss at Mumbai Indians and we'll buy him. Looks like he's a fan of Mumbai".
Also read: Rohit Sharma's epic reply to Tim Paine's 'friendly' banter
Mitchell Starc-Rishabh Pant, Melbourne
Rishabh Pant was batting well towards the end of day 2 as India were trying to get some quick runs on the board before declaring their innings. The day already saw Tim Paine involving in a funny banter with Rohit Sharma but towards the end of the day, things turned ugly as Mitchell Starc was involved in a verbal argument with Rishabh Pant.
The Aussie pacer was visibly frustrated with Pant as the youngster ran on the "danger area" of the pitch. He did not say anything the first time it happened but let his frustration out when Pant did it the second time. "He’s f***ing done it again mate,” shouted Starc at the umpire. He then looked back at Pant and said, “How dumb are ya?” before bowling a 148 kmph bouncer at him.
Also read: Mitchell Starc hurls mouthful at Rishabh Pant during 3rd Test
Tim Paine-Rishabh Pant, Melbourne
In the second innings of the Test when the Indians lost five wickets in quick succession late on day 3, Rishabh Pant had to face the last few overs in the day and Tim Paine realized that there was an opportunity to get under his skin and make him throw his wicket away.
When Rishabh Pant was on strike against Nathan Lyon, Paine started his thing as he said, "tell you what, big MS is back in the one-day squad, we might get him (Pant) down to the Hurricanes, this bloke. We need a batter," to the silly point fielder Aaron Finch for which the opener said, "not if he keeps blocking them."
The conversation continued a ball later when Paine tried to provoke Pant again as he was heard saying, "fancy that, Pantsy? Surely, extend your little Aussie holiday. Beautiful town Hobart, too. We'll get you a nice apartment on the waterfront. We'll have him over for dinner. Can you babysit? I'll take the wife to the movies one night, you'll look after the kids."
Also read: Tim Paine asks Rishabh Pant to babysit his kids
Without a doubt, this is easily one of the best banters we have had in this series so far.
Rishabh Pant-Tim Paine, Melbourne
Pant was at the receiving end of a hilarious banter from Tim Paine on day 3 of the MCG Test and the 20-year-old gave it back in style the next day when Paine was facing Ravindra Jadeja as his team was chasing 399 to take a 2-1 lead.
Just like Paine, Pant started a conversation with the silly point fielder Mayank Agarwal and said, "we have got a special guest here. Have you heard the word temporary captain ever. You [Jadeja] don't need anything to get him out. Come on lads. He loves to talk, that's the only thing he can do. Only talking, talking."
Also read: Rishabh Pant hilariously gives it back to Tim Paine
After the over, the umpires had a chat with Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli and in a bid to calm things down in the middle.
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