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With the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 currently levelled 1-1 ahead of the Boxing Day Test, the two teams are prepping hard to take a lead in the series. However, the fourth BGT Test is set to commence from Thursday, December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, the Indian team has been marred with several controversies.
While Virat Kohli’s argument with a female reporter at Melbourne Airport is one, Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has also been surrounded in a controversy with the Australian media claiming that the cricketer refused to answer questions in English and opted to speak in his native language. This media controversy has now taken a new turn as the Indian cricket team has boycotted media match with Australia.
India boycotts media match with Australia amid Ravindra Jadeja press conference row
According to several reports making waves on social media, the Indian cricket team has called off a planned T20 match between media personnel of the two countries amid Ravindra Jadeja press conference row. According to a report published by The Age, India’s backroom team members along with travelling media, have decided to boycott the T20 match that was scheduled to take place on Sunday afternoon at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.
Furthermore, the reports reveal that Team India’s media manager pulled out of the fixture and this prompted other members also to withdraw their names. Thereafter, the number of players were not enough to play a match. On the other hand, some Indian reporters have claimed that the media event was called only for travelling journalists.
Did Ravindra Jadeja snub English questions at MCG?
On Saturday, December 21, Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja addressed the media on the sidelines of the practice session at MCG in Melbourne. The veteran cricketer opted to address the media in his native language, taking up questions from Indian journalists. However, after just a nine-minute brief address, the presser was ended as the team bus had to depart, as reported by India’s media manager.
Although, this gesture by the Indian team left the Australian media bemused, claiming that Jadeja refused to answer questions in English. However, the reality suggests that he did not refuse on taking up any questions, a report by Channel 7 claimed, “The Australian media were bemused and confused when the star all-rounder refused to answer questions in English. It was obviously an annoying situation for the journalists who made the effort to turn up.”
