When Ashwin Threatened To End Tim Paine's Career In Fiery Sledging War

image-lr8wh732Tim Paine sledging Ashwin at SCG Test (X.com)

Things got heated up between Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and Australian then-captain Tim Paine during Day 5 of the gripping Sydney Test as Ashwin threatened to end Paine's career in response to a hostile reception from Paine's end.

The verbal battle broke out during Day 5 of the Sydney Test between India and Australia, where the visitors were trying to save the game in response to a 407-run target. 

After Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara built a 148-run stand, Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari took charge of somehow draw the game and staying alive in the high-stake Border-Gavaskar series.

Both the batters took blows but refused to kneel down before the mighty Aussies. Just when the duo looked headstrong, Tim Paine decided to play mental games.

Aussie's captain and wicketkeeper for the series, Tim Paine, tried to rattle Ashwin's grit and concentration with an ugly verbal war. After almost every ball, Paine chipped into Ashwin's ear and even crossed a line by using cuss words.

However, Ashwin isn't someone to hold back. He gave it back in style. When Paine told Ashwin that he could not wait to host him in Gabba, the spinner hit back, saying he also could not wait to host Paine in India and would make sure that the Indian series remained his last.


Tim Paine certainly didn't take that well and went overboard by calling the Indian spinner a 'd***head.' While Ashwin didn't say anything back, he kept halting the play, citing disturbance. 

He asked Paine to shut up, or he wouldn't allow the resumption of play. After a point, Nathan Lyon got frustrated due to repeated halts and asked Paine to tone down his aggression.

Eventually, Ravi Ashwin walked away with the last laugh as he remained unbeaten on 39 after facing 128 deliveries from a lethal Aussie pace attack and allowed his side, India, a fighting chance at Gabba by successfully producing a stalemate at SCG.