Team India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja faced criticism from Australian media for not answering questions in English during the press conference in Melbourne. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan backed Ravindra Jadeja, adding that there should be no issue with a player wanting to answer in Hindi.
The incident involving Ravindra Jadeja marked the second time in a short period that Australian media clashed with an Indian player. The first was when former skipper Virat Kohli confronted a media channel for filming his family without permission at the airport. The Jadeja incident added fuel to the fire.
BCCI Organized Interaction for Traveling Media, Ravindra Jadeja Responds in Hindi
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) organized an interaction for the traveling media, which included some Australian outlets. During the session, the Indian media asked their questions in Hindi, and Ravindra Jadeja responded in the same language.
An Australian journalist was next in line to ask a question, but due to the team bus running late, Jadeja left. This led to frustration among local journalists, who expressed their anger at the BCCI media manager. This exchange was reportedly captured intentionally and later broadcast on Australian channels.
What’s Wrong If a Player Wants to Give an Interview in Hindi? – Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan expressed his displeasure over the controversy on X (formerly known as Twitter). Pathan questioned what was wrong with a player choosing to give an interview in Hindi.
“What’s wrong if the player wants to give interview in Hindi?” Pathan wrote.
What’s wrong if the player wants to give interview in hindi?
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 22, 2024
Ravindra Jadeja Likely to Retain His Place in Squad for 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 a chance to ask their own questions. Jadeja played a key role in helping the India team secure a draw in Brisbane with a gritty 77 off 123 balls.
The Saurashtra all-rounder is expected to keep his place for the Boxing Day Test, which will begin 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 secure victory in the next game.
The Indian team started their red-ball tour with a dominant 295-run win in Perth, led by Jasprit Bumrah. However, they faced a heavy 10-wicket defeat in the day-night Test in Adelaide. The third Test ended in a draw due to rain. The final two venues of the series are expected to favor the Indian team.
Ravindra Jadeja in Australia (Test Batting and Bowling Performance)
| Series | Matches | Wickets | Bowling Average | Strike Rate | 5w | Runs | Batting Average | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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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