Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is all set to torment Australia as he returns to the country later in November for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. How can one forget the southpaw’s on-field antics from behind the stumps targeting then skipper Tim Paine in 2018-19. The banter-filled conversation between the two became one of the highlight moment of the series and is remembered even years later.
Throwback to Pant-Paine banter from 2018
The incident occurred in the third Test as both the wicketkeepers went back and forth at each other from behind the stumps. The Australian skipper upped the ante in terms of sledging the opposition in an attempt to match Virat Kohli and co. It all started with Paine taking a jibe at Pant for being left out of the ODI squad by asking him if he could babysit his toddler so that he can take his wife out for a movie. This happened at the close of play on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test.
“Tell you what, big MS (Dhoni) is back in the one day squad too, we might get him (Pant) down to the (Hobart) Hurricanes this bloke, we need a batter,” Paine had said from behind the stumps.
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It was then Pant’s turn to give it back to Paine and he did so in style, frustrating the Australian skipper. The very next day, as Australia were batting, Pant began chirping from behind the wicket in an attempt to get under the skin of Paine. Calling the Aussie a ‘temporary skipper’, Pant was heard saying the team didn’t need to do anything to get rid of Paine and that he had no responsibility as a captain.
“Have you heard of a temporary captain ever?” Pant said as the Australian captain started his innings began his innings. “We’ve got a special guest today, come on boys. Special appearance today boy. Come on. No responsibility there from captain,” Pant had chirped.
