Virat Kohli Responds To Tim Paine's Jibe In Style

India skipper Virat Kohli has responded to Tim Paine’s jibe in style, saying that his team is ready for anything. In his post-match presentation after the Test win over Pakistan, Paine had taken a sly dig at Kohli, saying that a day-night Test between India and Australia next year will depend on Virat Kohli. Last year, the BCCI had turned down Cricket Australia’s proposal to play a day-night Test when India visited down under.

Virat Kohli had always made it clear that India would prefer to play a day-night Test away from home only after experiencing playing with the pink ball in their own conditions. India finally made their debut in day-night Test last week and made a roaring start. The world number one Test side blew away the visitors in just over two days, winning the game by an innings and 46 runs.

Following the game, Virat Kohli made it clear that India would not hesitate in playing with pink-ball if they get a ‘good practice game’.

“There has to be planning for a pink-ball game,” Kohli said after the game. “We’re playing in home conditions, but if you ask the Bangladesh team, they’d have also liked a practice game. Because we know our conditions and the bowlers are really bowling well, so we don’t really feel the challenge or the things that are different about pink-ball cricket.

Maybe when we play away from home we will figure out what could be even more difficult while playing with the pink ball. I think with a good practice game before that and enough time to prepare, we’re open to doing anything. You can’t just play it on short notice, like I mentioned last time,” he added.

Paine’s comments for Kohli:

On Sunday, Australia captain Paine had made a tongue-in-cheek comment over India’s participation in a day-night Test in Australia. In a sly dig at Kohli, Paine had said that Australia will have to take ‘Kohli’s permission’ for playing at the Gabba or for the day-night Test.

“We’ll certainly try [to start at the Gabba] but we’ll have to run that by Virat,” Paine had said. “I am sure we’ll get an answer from him at some stage. That’s where we like to start our summer and has been for a long, long time except for last summer. As I said we’ll ask Virat, see if we can get his permission to play here. Maybe even get a pink-ball Test, if he’s in a good mood.”

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