'Why are we discussing anybody else?': Shastri shuts Vaughan, Australian media on Siraj-Jadeja incident; reveals truth
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri however shut all the talk around it as he revealed the truth behind the Siraj-Jadeja incident.
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja scripted a phenomenal return to cricket after five months of injury layoff as he picked his 11th five-wicket haul as the hosts bundled Australia for just 177 on Day 1 of the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar series. Yet, social media went abuzz when an Australian media platform highlighted a 'questionable' video of Mohammed Siraj and Jadeja during the match with former England captain Michael Vaughan criticising India's intentions. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri however shut all the talk around it as he revealed the truth behind the Siraj-Jadeja incident. (India vs Australia Live Updates 1st Test Day 2)
The incident happened after the tourists were reduced to 120 for five. Jadeja, by then, already had picked three wickets, having dismissed Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw and Steven Smith. The left-arm spinner was seen taking a substance off the Siraj's palm with his right hand and rubbed it on his index finger of his bowling hand. At no point in the footage, was Jadeja seen applying the substance on the ball.
Australian media outlet FOX Cricket, however, highlighted the incident on Twitter with the caption: "A debate has erupted after vision of a questionable moment was spotted during the first innings of the first Test between Australia and India."
While former Australia Test skipper Tim Paine called it, "Interesting", Vaughan reacted to the tweet saying, "What is it he is putting on his spinning finger? Never ever seen this".
At the start of Day 2 of the 1st Test, Star Sports highlighted Vaughan's reaction on Fox Cricket's tweet, but Shastri gave a blunt reaction before revealing that Jadeja was applying an ointment on his index finger.
“I have not heard much about it. I have asked two questions. Was there any problem with the Australian team? The answer was 'no'. Did the match referee come into play? He wad told about it, he cleared everything, matter ends. Why are we discussing anybody else? And to be honest, ointment as a reliever, the match referee would have been told if there was any decision to be taken or action, he would have taken it. By the way, on this track, you don't need anything, the ball will turn,” he said.
India resumed Day 2 having cut the deficit to 100 runs with India skipper Rohit Sharma on 56*. He was accompanied by Ravichandran Ashwin.
