Indian captain Virat Kohli and his Australian counterpart Tim Paine had a bit of a banter in the middle of the pitch as the players were walking off when stumps were called on Day 3 at Perth.
Kohli, who was agitated for the entire duration of Australia’s second innings after he was given out on a controversial catch after lunch earlier in the day, was the one who tried to get under the skin of the Australian captain right at the closing stages of Day 3.
In the last over of the day, the Indian fielders including captain Kohli went up in a huge appeal, claiming Paine had got an inside edge down the leg side of Ishant Sharma’s delivery. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena, was, however, unmoved and India rightly did not decide to review the decision as replays confirmed the ball had brushed Paine’s pad. Kohli though was caught saying something to Paine before walking back to his fielding position.
(ALSO READ: MATCH REPORT OF INDIA VS AUSTALIA DAY 3)
“If he messes this up it is 2-0 and who’s going to talk then?” Kohli said to Paine, according to the host broadcasters Fox Sports. The Australian skipper smiled before firing back, “You’ve got to bat first big head.”
It was a reasonably light-hearted exchange, but things appeared to become more heated at the end of the play, when Kohli and Paine continued to exchange words as they walked towards the dressing rooms.
“Tim just asked him where he was going for dinner,” Nathan Lyon laughed. “I’ve played enough cricket against Virat to know what he’s like. “Virat’s Virat.
While Kohli’s aggression is nothing new to the world, it is the reaction of the Australian captain that has raised a few eyebrows. While there was nothing alarming in what Paine did but he has been the flag bearer of clean cricket, speaking openly about keeping the action limited to bat and ball only ever since the sandpaper gate rocked Australian cricket in March this year.