Australian Test skipper Tim Paine was involved in some heated arguments with the Indian captain Virat Kohli in the second Test match in Perth. Paine is expecting this rivalry to continue in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground as he promised 'intense, hard' cricket contest in next match.
In the Perth Test, argument got so animated between the two skippers that at one-point umpire had to come between them to sort things out.
The hosts won the second Test comfortably by 146 runs to level the four-match series 1-1. Kohli faced a lot of flak from cricket fraternity and fans after his cold handshake with Paine.
The Aussie skipper backed the rival captain and appreciated his game style.
"A lot was made of my battle with Virat in the second Test, and for the past few years when I haven't been playing international cricket, he was one guy I loved watching," he said in a column for Melbourne's Herald Sun.
"Now to be out in the middle going head-to-head with him in a Test series is something I'm really relishing."
Paine addressed the winning attitude of the Indian skipper and heaped praises despite the frosty handshake.
"Virat is someone who is prepared to wear his heart on his sleeve and like all professional athletes, hates to lose," he said.
"I like the way Virat plays. I don't know him personally but I've always admired -- not only his obvious skill as a player -- but the passion and aggression he plays with. People like to see that and he gets fans through the gates."
Earlier, the Indian coach Ravi Shastri also came in support of 'Run Machine' Kohli.
"He was fantastic. What is wrong with his behaviour? Of course, you can question but as far as we are concerned, he is an absolute gentleman," said Shastri.
