Australia Test captain Tim Paine trended on social media on Thursday after fans reacted to his comment that India had distracted them with ‘sideshows’ during their bilateral series earlier this year. Responding after a sports journalist tagged him and said he was “copping heat from Indian fans”, Paine wrote on Twitter: “Love their passion…most of it I deserve.”
Love their passion Brent.
Most of it I deserve 😂— Tim Paine (@tdpaine36) May 13, 2021
Addressing the media at a Chappell Foundation function in Sydney, Paine had said: “Part of the challenge of playing against India is they’re very good at niggling you and trying to distract you with stuff that doesn’t really matter and there were times in that series where we fell for that.”
“The classic example was when they said they weren’t going to the Gabba so we didn’t know where we were going. They’re very good at creating these sideshows and we took our eye off the ball,” he added.
READ | Tim Paine’s Baggy-Green fade
Following this, Paine had become a much-talked-about figure on social media among Indian fans.
An excerpt from Tim Paine’s recent interview. Just parking it here. You are entitled to form your own opinions. 😎🙈 pic.twitter.com/Ej1u7RCrlM
— Wear a Mask. Stay Safe, India (@cricketaakash) May 13, 2021
Who would have thought the last 2 paragraphs of a 22 paragraph story taken from a wide ranging speaking engagement by @tdpaine36 at a charity dinner which create such a fuss. What @melindafarrell said 👇 https://t.co/4yFcrDhndb
— Malcolm Conn (@malcolmconn) May 13, 2021
In January this year, India, despite losing a number of their star players, managed to create history as they secured a win in Brisbane to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Playing under Ajinkya Rahane after Virat Kohli left for India, the visitors claimed a series-levelling win in the next Test.
READ | Paine backs Smith to ‘get the job again’
India then managed to secure a hard-fought draw at SCG before Rishabh Pant produced a match-winning knock on the final day of the last Test to help India win the four-match series 2-1.
