India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja faced criticism from the Australian media for not answering questions in English during the press conference in Melbourne. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan supported Ravindra Jadeja, adding that there should be no problem with the player wanting to answer in Hindi.
The incident involving Ravindra Jadeja was the second time in a short period that the Australian media had clashed with an Indian player. The first was when former captain Virat Kohli confronted a media channel for filming his family without permission at the airport. The Jadeja incident added fuel to the fire.
Interaction organized by BCCI for traveling media, Ravindra Jadeja responds in Hindi
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) organized an interaction with the touring media, which included some Australian outlets. During the session, the Indian media asked their questions in Hindi, and Ravindra Jadeja answered in the same language.
An Australian journalist was next in line to ask a question, but because the team bus was late, Jadeja left. This frustrated local journalists, who expressed their anger at the Director of Media at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This exchange was reportedly deliberately captured and later broadcast on Australian channels.
What's wrong if a player wants to conduct an interview in Hindi? -Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan expressed his dissatisfaction with the controversy surrounding X (formerly known as Twitter). Pathan wondered what was wrong with the player choosing to give an interview in Hindi.
“What's the problem if a player wants to do an interview in Hindi?” Pathan wrote.
What's the problem if a player wants to conduct an interview in Hindi?
– Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 22, 2024
Ravindra Jadeja is likely to retain his place in the team for the Boxing Day Test
It remains unclear whether the Australian media's frustration with Ravindra Jadeja stemmed from him answering questions only in Hindi or from not having the opportunity to ask their own questions. Jadeja played a key role in helping the Indian team equalize in Brisbane with 77 off 123 balls.
The Saurashtra all-rounder is expected to retain his place for the Boxing Day Test, which begins at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday, December 26. Notably, the ongoing series between India and Australia is currently tied at 1-1. Rohit Sharma's team wants to achieve victory in the next match.
The Indian team started their red-ball tour with a dominant 295-run win in Perth, captained by Jasprit Bumrah. However, they faced a heavy defeat by 10 wickets in the day-night Test in Adelaide. The third Test ended in a draw due to rain. The final two spots of the series are expected to go in favor of the Indian team.
Ravindra Jadeja in Australia (Test batting and bowling performance)
| series | Matches | Wicket | Average bowling | Strike rate | 5w | Runs | Batting average | 1950s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | 2 | 7 | 28.57 | 76.2 | 0 | 90 | 30 | 1 |
| 2020-2021 | 2 | 7 | 15.00 | 32.1 | 0 | 85 | 43.36 | 1 |
| 2024-2025* | 1 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 77 | 77 | 1 |
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