Former Australia captain Tim Paine has hoped that India keeper-batter Rishabh Pant is fit enough to travel with the Indian team to Australia later this year for the Border-Gavaskar Test series 2024-25. India will play a five-Test series down under for the first time since 1991-92.
Paine was the captain of Australia when Rishabh Pant’s heroics in Sydney and Brisbane Tests helped India win their second consecutive Test series down under in the 2020-21 series.
However, Rishabh Pant met with a serious car accident in December 2022 and only recently made his cricketing comeback in the IPL 2024 after spending 14 months recovering and rehabbing from surgery. He returned as Delhi Capitals captain in their loss to Punjab Kings and made 18 off 13 balls in the match.
Tim Paine said he was pleased to see Pant back on the field. The former Australian skipper talked about the famous banter they had in the past and said it was all in good spirits.
"It certainly did. A lot has been said about the ordeal he went through and how close he was to losing a leg. Just to see him walk back onto the field, as a cricket fan and as a fan of Rishabh. I know we had our banter back and forth, it was really cheeky and good fun. I have always had fun chatting with him off the field, enjoyed watching him play,” Paine said on ESPNcricinfo's Around the Wicket.
Paine also added that Pant plays cricket how he always wanted to when he was an active cricketer. He also wished that Rishabh can be fit in time for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour down under later this year.
"He played cricket like I always wanted to. I didn't have the courage, to take the game on or even the skill. certainly appreciate what he brings to the game, the joy he brings to the Indian cricket team fans. I can't wait to keep watching him and hopefully, he is fit and well enough to make it to Australian shores for the summer," said Paine.
India will be touring Australia for the Border-Gavaskar trophy from November 22 this year all the way till January 7.
