The Indian team management issued a clarification to ICC match referee Andy Pycroft regarding the video of Ravindra Jadeja going viral on social media on day 1 of the first India-Australia Test in Nagpur. The hosts explained that the all-rounder was applying an ointment to the index finger of his bowler’s hand.
Jadeja starred with a five-wicket haul in her international return on Day 1 of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy first test on Thursday 9 February. However, Australian media shocked after Jadeja was seen taking a substance from the back of pacemaker Mohammed Siraj. palm with the right hand. The jeep appeared to rub the substance on the index finger of his left hand.
The incident in question occurred after Australia lost half their team with just 120 on the board. Jadeja had taken three of those scalps, including big ones from Marnus Labuschagne (49) and Steve Smith (37).
According to a report by ESPNcricnfo, after the end of the opening day in Nagpur, Jadeja, India captain Rohit Sharma and the team manager watched the video which went viral. According to the report, Pycroft wanted to inform the Indian team about the incident and Jadeja has not been charged in the controversy.
It is believed that the Australian team also did not raise the issue with the referee of the match.
‘Not a rank change’: Ravindra Jadeja opens up after Day 1 heroics
Playing in her first cap since the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates last year, Jadeja made a successful return to the team, taking 5/47 in 22 overs. Australia were bowled out for a disappointing 177 in 63.5 overs after winning the toss and batting first.
Despite enjoying much success on the opening day of the Nagpur test, Jadeja refused to call the surface a range change, saying:
“He is not a range turner. For a day one pitch, it was slow and there wasn’t much bounce compared to other wickets. Defending wasn’t that hard for the hitters today, but it will happen as the game progresses. That happens in most test matches. He is definitely not a range turner.”
The 34-year-old added that he used the depth of the crease to try to unsettle the Australian duo of Labuschagne and Smith. The left arm spinner elaborated:
“I was using the fold because all the deliveries were not rotating. To create doubt in the batsmen’s minds, I would steer clear of the crease and sometimes bowl from closer to the crease. I was mixing it up.”
India ended Day 1 on 77/1, with skipper Rohit unbeaten on 56 and Ravichandran Ashwin on 0.