Indian National Cricket team wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant and his counterpart Tim Paine had made headlines for their on-field banters in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Test series. The banter has garnered a huge viewership, and Pant believes it is helpful to keep the intensity going during long on-field hours.
Meanwhile, the official broadcaster of the series Fox Cricket has decided to keep the stump mic on, and it has recorded some of the interesting exchanges between Pant and Paine. Moreover, Rishabh Pant, who made the great babysitter banter true, doesn’t mind that stump mic is on.
“That (banter) is also one of the methods to keep yourself positive and to keep yourself busy. When you are fielding for a long time, everyone’s body does get tired, but you need to find a way to keep yourself positive and stay concentrated. My method is this, and it works for me, and that’s why I am doing it,” Pant told the media on Friday.
“As a player, I don’t think about any of these things (stump microphone being turned up). Whatever I feel like at that moment, I say it. That’s the only way,” he added.
However, all of this started during the Boxing Day Test when Rishabh Pant was batting. Tim Paine tried to get into the skin of Pant reminding him of his recent ODI snubbing. In addition to, he also urged the young cricketer to babysit his children.
“Big MS (Dhoni) is back in the one-day squad too, we might get him (Pant) down to the (Hobart) Hurricanes we need a batter. Fancy that, Pantsy? Extend your little Aussie holiday. Beautiful town Hobart too, I’ll get you a nice apartment on the waterfront. (I’ll) have him over for dinner. Can you babysit? I’ll take the wife to the movies one night and you’ll look after the kids,” Paine was heard saying on the stump mic.
Rishabh Pant’s reply
The cricketer from Delhi didn’t get bog down by the sledging from an experienced pro. Instead, he gave it back when Tim Paine came to bat in the very next innings.
“We got a special guest today. Have you ever heard of a temporary captain, ever, Mayank?” said Pant, referring to the absence of banned former skipper Steve Smith.