“No, I don’t regret,” Tim Paine does not regret sledging Ravichandran Ashwin in the Sydney Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21

Tim Paine stood by his sledging of Ravichandran Ashwin in the 2020-21 Sydney Test, saying he has no regrets despite criticism.

“No, I don’t regret,” Tim Paine does not regret sledging Ravichandran Ashwin in the Sydney Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21

Tim Paine, Ravichandran Ashwin (Via X)

Former Australian captain Tim Paine says he has no regrets about sledging Ravichandran Ashwin during the drawn 2021 Sydney Test, where Ashwin and an injured Hanuma Vihari’s heroic stand saved the match for India.

Team India was chasing a target of 407 runs in that Test match and had their backs against the wall. Ashwin and Vihari stitched together a partnership that lasted 42.4 overs, and that is the moment when the exchange occurred between Paine and Ashwin.

YouTube video

No, I don’t [regret] 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.

Tim Paine said on The Grade Cricketer’s YouTube channel

Paine had a verbal altercation with Ashwin sledging him with “I can’t wait to get you to the Gabba, Ash.” The fourth Test match was set to be held at the Gabba in Brisbane where Australia enjoyed an unbeaten streak till that series.

In reply, Ashwin said, “Just like we want to get you to India, that will be your last series,” hinting at Ashwin and India’s dominance at home.

India won the final match at the Gabba to take the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 by a margin of 2-1

Ashwin and Vihari took the series till the final match at Brisbane but missed out due to injuries. However, India’s inexperienced squad scripted history as they breached Australia‘s Gabba fortress to take the series 2-1 and grabbed the second consecutive BGT trophy on the Australian soil.

India won the final match at the Gabba to take the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 by a margin of 2-1
Indian Cricket Team (Via X)

Team India will again travel to Australia for a five-match Test series starting from November 22 in Perth. Australia has not won the series since 2014-15 at home and lost four series since then (2 at home and 2 away from home).

Meanwhile, India suffered a 2-0 series loss at home against New Zealand with one match still to play in Mumbai. This marks the end of India’s proud record of not losing a Test series at home since 2012.