India and Australia players haven't engaged in any sledging during limited-overs series.
India's tour of Australia this year has seen an exchange of smiles more than words till now. But former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif doesn't think it will continue in the Test series.
Kaif pointed out that Australia Test skipper Tim Paine can come up with sledges as he isn't part of the Indian Premier League. The viewers haven't got any heated face-off but players engaging in friendly banters and sharing laughs in the limited-overs series.
The Border-Gavaskar trophy will begin on December 17 and Kaif is anticipating sledging with Paine coming in. Paine and Rishabh Pant, both the wicket-keeper had engaged in hilarious banter when India last toured Australia.
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“All the players who play in the IPL, whether it is Finch, Warner, or [Pat] Cummins, none of them are going to fight now. Tim Paine does not play, he knows that he is not going to come to India, he does not have anything to do with the IPL, so he can confront the Indians,” said Kaif on Sony Sports Network.
Paine will have to focus on his performance and justify his place as a captain with the bat this year. Unlike last Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, Steve Smith and David Warner have returned to the side this time.
“I feel by the time the Test series is over, Tim Paine would have been dropped. He is not able to score runs with the bat. He just got the captaincy because Smith and Warner had the problem at the time.
They were banned, so he was made the captain in compulsion. Now that they have come back, if he doesn’t score, then his spot in the XI will also be difficult,” Kaif added.
(With Sony Sports Network Inputs)