Tim Paine, former Australia captain, has stated that he doesn’t regret sledging India’s R Ashwin during the tight-fought third Test in Sydney during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series.

India defied the odds to win the series 2-1 after losing the first game in Adelaide. Despite a painful back, Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari batted for 42.4 overs to secure a draw in the third Test in Sydney.

Paine began jabbing the Indian from behind the stumps, but his bat failed to break Ashwin's resolve. Tim Paine states that he doesn’t believe he did something wrong by sledging Ashwin as the off-spinner was "annoying" him by getting his wicket so often.

"No, I don't because to this day Ashwin didn't play in that (Brisbane) Test match. I wasn't talking to the Indians, I was talking to him. I said we cannot wait to get you to the Gabba. Because he was annoying us, fair to say. He is a fantastic cricketer. He was getting me out all the time and that was annoying me as well," Paine said in a podcast of 'The Grade Cricketer'.

Paine remarked, "I can't wait to get you to the Gabba, Ash, I'll tell you what, woohoo."

Ashwin too replied in kind to Paine, saying: "Just like we wanna get you to India. That will be your last series."

The Indian spinner was the target of the sledge, according to Paine.

"But no, that was purely directed straight at him and he pulled out of that Test match because of a back spasm. Did I have a great game in that match? No, but I fronted up. Actually, on day one of the Test match he (Ashwin) was jogging laps. Those back spasms couldn't have been that bad," he added.

Here is the video: