Tim Paine disproves Michael Clarke’s statement over Australia ‘too scared’ to sledge Virat Kohli

Tim Paine disproves Michael Clarke’s statement: The Australian Test captain didn’t agree with the former World Cup-winning captain.

Australia Test captain Tim Paine has disproved former Australia captain Michael Clarke’s recent statement regarding Australian players “sucking up” to the Indian players especially captain Virat Kohli to make sure they get to play in the Indian Premier League.

“Everybody knows how powerful India are in regards to the financial part of the game, whether that be internationally or domestically in regards to the IPL.

Don’t pick fights with Virat Kohli to keep him quiet, not to save IPL contracts: Australia Test captain Tim Paine. #Kohli #TimPaine #IPL

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 9, 2020

“So, I feel, Australian cricket, and probably every other team, over a little period went the opposite – actually sucked up to India. They were too scared to sledge Kohli or sledge the Indian players because they had to go and play with them in April,” Clarke was quoted as saying during the Big Sports Breakfast radio programme earlier this week.

Tim Paine disproves Michael Clarke’s statement

Speaking in an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Paine didn’t hesitate from mentioning that he didn’t notice people being nice to Kohli and each player was doing his best to win the match for Australia.

“I certainly didn’t notice too many people being that nice to Virat [Kohli] or not trying to get him out or anything like that. I thought everyone who had the ball in their hand or when we were batting were trying their absolute best to win the game for Australia. I’m not sure who was going easy on him; we certainly had a thing where we didn’t want to provoke any fight with him because we think that’s when he plays at his best,” Paine was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

ALSO WATCH: Tim Paine taunts Virat Kohli over playing day-night Test at Gabba

Paine, 35, further highlighted how he was involved in a few heated arguments during India’s previous tour of Australia. Announced as Australia’s captain after Steve Smith was banned for a year, Paine said with surety that his players don’t think about IPL contracts while playing against Kohli.

“Who knows what will happen this series and, as we saw in the documentary, there was still quite a lot of heat in some of those games.

“I certainly wasn’t holding back, but again the IPL’s not a huge draw for me at the moment, so I had nothing to lose. But anytime our guys go out and play a Test match for Australia, they’ll be giving their absolute all and I’m pretty sure they’re not thinking about an IPL contract when they’re running in, bowling to Virat,” Paine added.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

Read More