To this day, the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy stands as one of the most celebrated victories in Indian cricket history. Despite being without key players such as Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah for crucial matches due to various circumstances, the Indian team orchestrated one of the most remarkable comebacks in cricket. This series began with India suffering a historic defeat, being bowled out for just 36 runs in Adelaide. Additionally, the series was marked by intense sledging, with then-Australia captain Tim Paine taking it to unprecedented levels.
Tim Paine has expressed no regrets about sledging Ravichandran Ashwin during the third Test of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, stating that he aimed to unsettle the India off-spinner, who had been “annoying” him by dismissing him regularly. Following their loss in the series opener at Adelaide, India overcame the odds to secure a remarkable 2-1 series victory.
Ashwin was instrumental in securing a draw in the third Test at Sydney, battling through an aching back to bat for 42.4 overs alongside Hanuma Vihari.
After struggling to disrupt Ashwin’s concentration at the crease, Paine shifted to verbal jabs from behind the stumps. He remarked, “I can’t wait to get you to the Gabba, Ash, I’ll tell you what, woohoo,” just before an over bowled by off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
However, Paine stands by his actions, stating, “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 ‘thegradecricketer’.
Ashwin too replied in kind to Paine, saying: “Just like we wanna get you to India. That will be your last series.”
Paine said the sledge was aimed at the Indian spinner. “But no, that was purely directed straight at him and he pulled out of that Test match because of back spasm. Did I have a great game in that match? No, but I fronted up. Actually day one of the Test match he (Ashwin) was jogging laps. Those back spasms couldn’t have been that bad,” he added.
