During the ongoing first Test in Nagpur, Australia’s media accused Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja of tampering with the ball.
When Jadeja was seen rubbing something on his finger during the incident, viewers assumed he was tampering with the ball because the video footage quickly went viral.
In the video, Jadeja uses his right hand to swipe something off Mohammed Siraj, another teammate. Before starting his delivery stride, he applied the substance to the left hand’s index finger.
Despite holding it in his hands, Jadeja was not seen rubbing anything on the ball itself.
The Indian team management was questioned about the incident by referee Andy Pycroft. But, on the other hand, the spinner was not charged.
The accusations were made when Australia reached 120-5 in their first innings, and Jadeja had already claimed the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw, and Steven Smith.
Although Jadeja applied a pain-relieving cream to his index finger, the Indian team management told AFP that nothing untoward had happened.
India turned the tables on Australia, although debutant spinner Todd Murphy taking his third wicket of the first Test on Friday must be noted. Rohit Sharma was unbeaten on an assured 85.
On a Nagpur pitch anticipated to turn more as the match goes on, India took lunch on day two at 151-3, closing on Australia’s first innings at 177.
After losing his overnight partner, Ravichandran Ashwin, for 23 and then Cheteshwar Pujara, for seven, Rohit batted alongside Virat Kohli at the break on 12.
Off-spinner Murphy, who took KL Rahul for his first Test wicket on Thursday, also caught Pujara at short fine leg and had Ashwin out via lbw after an effective review by Australia.
On his overnight score of 56, Rohit got off to a cautious start before hitting Nathan Lyon and fast bowler Pat Cummins for sixes over deep square leg.
Despite losing Ashwin and Pujara, he still managed to see the first session, with India trailing by 26 runs. He had the right balance of caution and aggression.
Despite being all out shortly after tea, Jadeja was the first-day hero with his 5-47 against the tourists, who had chosen to bat first to start the four-match series.
