Fact Check: Was Jadeja Cheating On Day 1 Of First Test Vs Australia?

Nagpur: Australia cut a sorry figure on the opening day of the 4-Test series as Team India bowled them out for a paltry 177. Skipper Rohit Sharma then completed a memorable day by scoring an unbeaten half-century as the home team reached 77/1 at stumps on Thursday.

It was comeback man Ravindra Jadeja who was mainly instrumental in spinning a web around the Australian batsmen as he bagged 5/47.

However, certain sections of the Australian media and Fox Cricket weren’t pleased with the way Jadeja conducted himself on the field. In fact, they accused the left-arm spinner of using an external substance on his fingers.

Jadeja was actually applying an ointment for soreness on his finger. And that is very much within the rules of the game.

Jadeja was out of action for nearly five months and had played just one Ranji Trophy game before this Test. He bowled 22 overs after a long time, and had soreness in his fingers, which is why he was applying pain-relief ointment.

Fox Cricket made other accusations against the Indian team as well, describing the Nagpur pitch a disgrace before match started.

As it turned out, the track was anything but unplayable, and Aussie batsmen just didn’t have the wherewithal to bat on such a surface.