As the India vs Australia limited-overs series gets closer by the day and people begin to flock online to check the odds on sport betting websites, it seems that the old rivals are not holding back as the banter hits a whole new level. In a short commercial the former Indian batsman, Virender Sehwag, can be seen babysitting a host of infants that are meant to represent the Aussie team. In just a couple of days, the video has already become a viral sensation around the web.
This, of course, isn’t the first time this joke has surfaced between the 2 sides – having first been used in December of last year between India’s Rishabh Pant and Australian captain, Tim Paine, during the Melbourne Test. Pant, being well able to give back the crosstalk, alluded to Paine being a “temporary captain”. What started as a mid-match remark between the two was later taken to Instagram. Paine’s wife, Bonnie, jokingly posting an image of Pant posing with her and her two children calling him the “best babysitter”.
Players would have been forgiven to think that that would have been the end of it, but the hilarity has continued in true good-hearted competitive sportsmanship. This time around, it didn’t take long before the statement was once again taken to social media, with Mathew Hayden posting his thoughts on Twitter. This has understandably led to a rather lengthy and entertaining thread of comments with both sides posting their thoughts about it.
This colourful mockery of the Australian team comes just in time for the beginning of the limited-over series which all kicks off on Sunday, February 24th. During the 3 week tour, India and Australia are to play two Twenty20 Internationals and five One-Day Internationals. The locations and times of the games were recently announced by the ICC. The first T20I will take place on the day of inauguration in Visakhapatnam at 7 pm (IST), while the second T20I will take place a few days later on February 27th in Bengaluru. This match will also start at 7 pm (IST). The remaining 5 ODIs will take place in Hyderabad (Saturday, March 2nd), Nagpur (Tuesday, March 5th), Ranchi (Friday, March 8th), Mohali (Sunday, March 10th) and the final game will be played in Delhi (Wednesday, March 13th). Each of these games will commence at 1:30 pm (IST).
With only a few days left before Paine and his team make their way to Indian soil, there is still time for the Aussies to think of a comeback that will add more fuel to the fire. The tour is set to be Australia’s last international assignment before the ICC World Cup so the pressure is really on for them. At the end of it all, it comes down to one thing: who will take home the victory and more bragging rights to go with it? The world will soon find out which side is in need of a babysitter for certain. So, make sure you back your team and get out to support them.
