The much-awaited 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy kickstarted on Thursday with Team India locking the horns with Australia in Nagpur. On Day 1 of India vs Australia 1st Test, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja registered an emphatic comeback and took a 5-wicket haul. Ravindra Jadeja was out of cricket for over 5 months due to injury and on Thursday he finally made his comeback. Courtesy of Ravindra Jadeja's brilliant bowling, Australia was bundled on 177, and that too on Day 1 pitch. However, IND vs AUS 1st Test Day 1 turned ugly when Australian media raised questions over Ravindra Jadeja applying an external substance on his bowling finger and shared the video for the same. Even, former Australian Captain Tim Paine raised question after Jadeja's video went viral. In fact, Australian fans accused Ravindra Jadeja of ball tampering and when Michael Vaughan also raised the question, a massive row erupted after the completion of Day 1 of India vs Australia 1st Test. As a result, match referee Andy Pycroft asked the Indian Team Management about the controversy and asked skipper Rohit Sharma & Jadeja on point blank over the incident.
As per ESPNcricinfo report, Ravindra Jadeja and skipper Rohit Sharma were shown a video of the incident by ICC match referee Andy Pycroft after the play, but no charges were laid against the player. Indian team management reportedly told Pycroft Jadeja “was applying pain-relief cream to the index finger of his bowling hand”. The report further quoted a source saying, "While the incident triggered debates on social and mainstream media, it is learned that the Australia team had not brought the matter to the attention of the match referee."
What does the law say?
“According to the playing conditions, the match referee can independently probe such incidents without needing a complaint to be lodged. And under the Laws of Cricket, the bowler needs the umpire’s permission to apply any sort of substance on their hands to ensure the condition of the ball remains unaffected.”
In the viral video, Jadeja was captured to either take something off the hand of one of his teammates, or from inside his hand, with his right hand. He then rubbed his hands and finger near and around the ball though it was uncertain what exactly was happening - some suggesting he was putting something on his spinning finger. However, without much investigation Australian media Fox Cricket stated that Jadeja applied 'something interesting' on his hand.
Watch Video
This was not ball tampering . Ravindra Jadeja was applying ointment for sore fingers. This is the story of this picture, not the one cooked by other media. (Reported by Sports Tak).@tdpaine36 @Dags_L#INDvsAUS #INDvAUS #Jadeja #BGT2023 #RavindraJadeja #BallTampering #BGT pic.twitter.com/WlvxopwByu
— Women's Premier League (WPL) #WPL2023 (@wpl2023) February 10, 2023
India vs Australia Day 1, 1st Test
Having won the toss, Australia's start was embarrassing. Both David Warner and Usman Khwaja were dismissed inside 10 overs. Although Marnus and Steve Smith tried to stitch a partnership, they were dismissed by none other than Ravindra Jadeja. While Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed on 49, Steve Smith was clean bowled at 37 runs. After their dismissal, Australia could not bounce back and they were ultimately all out of 177 runs. In response, Rohit Sharma gave India a blazing start. By the end of the day, Rohit Sharma remained not-out at 56 off just 69 balls. India lost only 1 wicket of KL Rahul who was dismissed by off-spinner T Murphy.