Cricket fans got happily stumped on the New Year’s Day when they spotted a picture of Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant posing with Australian skipper Tim Paine’s wife and kids ahead of the fourth Test in Sydney, starting Thursday.
In an Instagram post, Paine’s wife, Bonnie, posted a picture of a smiling Pant with the home captain’s son with the caption: ‘Best babysitter!’ during an event at Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s residence in Sydney.
The gag which got instant thumbs up from the internet is actually an outcome of humorous on-field banter between the two men in gloves caught by the stump microphones during the Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne.
On Day 3, Paine had advised the young keeper to join the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League using some MS Dhoni references.
The Australian captain extended the bait by adding if Pant would like to stay at a “nice apartment on the waterfront” in Hobart followed by a suggestion if the 21-year-old would be up for babysitting his kids.
"Tell you what, big MS [Dhoni] is back in the one-day squad too, we might get him down to the [Hobart] Hurricanes this bloke, we need a batter.”
“Fancy that Pant, extend your little Aussie holiday. Beautiful town Hobart too. Get you a nice apartment on the waterfront. Have him over for dinner.”
“Can you babysit? I can take the wife to the movies one night, you can look after the kids?” Paine was heard saying to Pant between overs.
While there is no confirmation yet on whether Pant will be extending his holiday and joining the Hurricanes, but one thing is for sure, Mr and Mrs Paine can perhaps now look forward to a movie date without worrying about the kids.
