India’s middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma has responded to the banter which took place between Tim Paine and Aaron Finch on Day 2 of the third Test between Australia and India on Thursday.
Paine and Finch were trying to distract Rohit when he was batting along with Ajinkya Rahane at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
During the final session of day’s play, Paine told Finch, who was standing close in: “It’s a bit of a toss up between Royals and Indians for me. But if Rohit hits a six now, I’m changing to Mumbai.”
Paine further joked with Finch that he had played for almost all the teams in the IPL and Finch told him who he has not played for.
“You’ve nearly played for every team now,” Paine said. “Except Bangalore,” said Finch.
“Except Bangalore?” Paine questioned.
But the trick didn’t work as Rohit carried on batting undeterred with what was being said around him.
Aaron Finch discusses the IPL banter with skipper Tim Paine when Rohit Sharma was out in the middle #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/wcuElzaHHE
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2018
Before the start of play on Day 3, Rohit admitted to having heard Paine and Finch’s banter and joked about buying the Australian skipper for Mumbai Indians if he hits a hundred.
“I was hearing that but when I’m batting I just focus on the job at hand. But I had a chat with Ajinkya Rahane and I joked that if he (Paine) gets a hundred here, I will put in a word about him to my boss at Mumbai Indians and we’ll buy him. Looks like he’s a fan of Mumbai,” Rohit was quoted saying as per the reports in India Today.
