Australia vs India 2018/19: I Have Always Admired Virat Kohli: Tim Paine
Dec 24, 2018 at 10:28 AM
One of the highlights of the second Test between India and Australia in Perth was the verbal duel between the two captains – Virat Kohli and Tim Paine. After remaining uncharacteristically silent in the series-opener in Adelaide, Kohli looked his usual self in Perth.
From urging the crowd to make more noise to verbally attacking the opposition players, Kohli looked at his combative best. One of the highlights of the game was his duel with his Australian counterpart. Kohli had tried to get under the skin of Paine on day three of the game.The Australia skipper was also not ready to let the matter go as he hit back at Kohli, calling the India star bighead.
The fourth morning was not an exception either. Both the captains had a go at each other constantly. At one stage, things nearly got out of hands when Kohli came in Paine’s way and nearly hit him with his chest. Umpire Chris Gaffaney soon intervened and talked with both the skippers to keep things under control.
Not only that, report also suggest that Kohli had fired a belittling comment that labelled Paine ‘a stand-in captain’ and himself ‘the best player in the world’.
And while Kohli is facing criticism for his behaviour, Paine has surprisingly said he is relishing his heated battle with the India star.
“A lot was made of my battle with Virat in the second Test, and for the past few years when I haven’t been playing international cricket, he was one guy I loved watching,” Paine wrote in a News Ltd column.
“Now to be out in the middle going head-to-head with him in a Test series is something I’m really relishing,” he added.
The game ended with a frosty handshake between the two captains as Kohli looked in no mood to do the formalities. However, Paine said he was not annoyed “in the slightest” by Kohli looking straight past him at the handshake.
“Virat is someone who is prepared to wear his heart on his sleeve and like all professional athletes, hates to lose,” he wrote.
“I like the way Virat plays. I don’t know him personally but I’ve always admired – not only his obvious skill as a player – but the passion and aggression he plays with. People like to see that and he gets fans through the gates,” he added.
Meanwhile, the series is currently locked at 1-1. The third Test will start on December 26 in Perth.