When Tim Paine Felt Like 'Standing Up' Against Virat Kohli

Australia were under radar after the sandpaper gate scandal. Their behaviour was getting noticed closely. It was a time when they decided not to go on all-out sledging mode, it was something they could not afford to do, as it would have further marred their status.

Amid all this, Virat Kohli, who likes to show his passion for the game through his aggression was touring Australia for a Test series.

And, as anticipated, Kohli was heard and captured sledging at the Australians, to which the hosts had no answer.

Virat Kohli sledges Tim Paine in Perth Test

India had taken a lead in four-match Test series, when Kohli decided to go on a full-fledged sledging mode. He was seen taking a dig at the Australia captain Tim Paine by saying, “If he messes it up, it’s 2-0. Who’s gonna talk then?” the India captain was caught saying by the stump microphone.

Recalling the incident, Paine in the documentary series of The Test said, “The plan was not to talk to him when he was batting, when we were batting it’s kind of up to the individual what they want to do

“I sort of just had enough and thought you also have to stand up for yourself and your teammates and that was one of the reasons I thought, ‘no, I’m the captain, it’s my turn, I have to stand up and show him we’re here for the fight’,” Paine added.

Remember feeling like a punching bag: Justin Langer

Australia head coach Justin Langer was a shattered man. He recalled feeling like a punching bag because Australia had their hands behind the back due to the situation.

“I remember that afternoon (feeling) like a punching bag. We can’t fight back because it felt like we had our hands behind our backs and we just had to take it,” Langer said in the documentary.

“It just felt a bit double standards to me. Imagine if we behaved two out of ten (of) that,” he added.