Former India opener Aakash Chopra opened up on the controversy surrounding the allrounder Ravindra Jadeja‘s recent press conference before the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Chopra even stated that it is the problem of the media persons if they don’t understand Hindi.
The Indian team is currently in Melbourne preparing for the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Men in Blue are training hard in the nets as the players look to give it their all in the remaining matches.
Aakash Chopra slams Australian media on Ravindra Jadeja controversy
While speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra spoke about the controversy surrounding Ravindra Jadeja’s press conference. Firstly, he made it clear that he is ‘Ravindra Jadeja’ and not ‘Ravi Jadeja’. The journalists from Western media often call the allrounder by the wrong name – Ravi Jadeja.
“The last story is about the pitch-fixing. It has become a major point of discussion. There was a talk about the press conference as well. Firstly, his name is Ravindra Jadeja. He is not Ravi. There was a lot of discussion about why he answered only in Hindi and didn’t take questions in English,” Chopra said.
The former India cricketer further defended Ravindra Jadeja saying that he is there to play cricket and not to give interviews. He claimed that it’s the problem of the reporters if they don’t understand Hindi and the issue has been elaborated way too much by Australian media.
“It’s your problem if you don’t understand the language he spoke. He is not obliged to answer the questions in English. Trust me, he is not. He is there to play and not to give interviews. Whether he came late that day, I am not privy to that, but a lot of fuss is created there,” he reckoned.
What was the controversy?
Recently, Ravindra Jadeja did a press conference at the MCG where he answered questions from Indian journalists in Hindi but refused to take any questions from the Australian media. Since then, he has been criticized for disrespecting the journalists in a press conference.
Later, it was found that the Indian team manager didn’t allow Ravindra Jadeja to take any questions from the Australian reporters as the allrounder was getting late to catch the team bus. A match that was supposed to be played between Indian and Australian media later was also cancelled after this incident.
Ravindra Jadeja didn’t play the first two Tests but played the Gabba Test. He wasn’t impressive with the ball but scored an excellent 77 with the bat which helped India to avoid the follow-on.
Aakash Chopra slams Australia on pitch-fixing
Aakash Chopra also shared his views on the pitch-fixing controversy in Australia. Recently, the Indian team was given the used pitches of Big Bash to practice rather than the fresh pitch, which was given to the Australian team.
Chopra was highly critical of Australia’s approach and asked them to give proper facilities in order to ensure equal play. He even claimed that India doesn’t do such things when Australia comes to play matches.
“We saw the visuals. Australia are getting pitches as they should be for practice. We are getting used and tired pitches where the bounce is uneven. Our philosophy is Atithi Devo Bhava. When you come to our place, we even give net bowlers, and you are doing pitch-fixing,” Aakash Chopra noted.
“You guys are not doing the right thing. Provide quality practice facilities to both the teams. Don’t treat India as a visitor who doesn’t deserve good practice or training facilities,” the former India opener added.
The series is currently level 1-1 with two more Tests to be played. The Boxing Day Test will be played from December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The fifth Test will be played in Sydney.