Indian cricketer has promised to sledge the Australians back

With the India vs Australia series about to commence in a few days time, our minds cast back to previous encounters between these two cricketing nations.

It has been a rivalry that grew gradually after the turn of the century. India started challenging Australia’s status as the best side in the world, which they Aussies did not take too kindly.

Things went to another level, after the explosive 2007-08 series in Australia.

The whole ‘Monkey-gate’ saga soured the relationship between the two nations, something that has greatly improved over the last decade.

But a deep rivalry exists between the two nations, which was clear the last time Australia came to India a few months ago. Sparks flew all over the place, as India triumphed over Australia in an entertaining test series.

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And the mind games have already begun, as Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has already mentioned that he would not shy away from the trash talk.

“Sledging is a part of the game. When your opposition has struck a partnership in the game, you sledge the batsmen to break their focus. This comes from naturally. We sledge but never using bad words. Sledging is very important when you have to dismiss a set batsman or break a partnership,” he said in an interview with India TV.

“We are 100 percent ready to take on the Australian sledging. If they sledge us, they will get the appropriate reply. It will be a tit for tat reply. I think we are performing well from the past few series. We just clean swept Sri Lanka. We are confident of winning the series,” he added.

“I have never planned against any particular batsman. I am just focused on my basics,” the Bengal pacer concluded.