Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was accused of ball-tampering by the Australian media on Thursday during the ongoing first Test in Nagpur.
Video footage of the incident went viral after Jadeja was seen rubbing a substance on his finger, leading viewers to believe he was involved in ball-tampering.
In the video, Jadeja is seen using his right hand to remove a substance from the back of teammate Mohammad Siraj’s palm. He then rubbed the substance on the index finger of his left hand before getting into the swing of his delivery.
Despite having the ball in hand, Jadeja was not seen rubbing anything on the ball itself.
The match referee Andy Pycroft also asked the Indian team management for an explanation regarding the incident. However, no charges were laid against Spinner.
The allegations were made after Australia reached 120-5 in their first innings, with Jadeja having already claimed the wickets of Marence Lebuschagne, Matt Renshaw and Steven Smith.
However, Indian team management told JEE News that Jadeja applied pain-relieving cream to his index finger and there were no untoward incidents.
Captain Rohit Sharma certainly remained unbeaten on 85 as India turned the tables on Australia despite debutant spinner Todd Murphy picking up his third wicket in the opening Test on Friday.
India lunched on 151-3 on the second day, Australia’s first innings closed for 177 on a Nagpur pitch that is expected to see more twists and turns as the match progresses.
Rohit was batting with Virat Kohli on 12, losing overnight partner Ravichandran Ashwin for 23 and then Cheteshwar Pujara for seven at the break.
Murphy, an off-spinner who claimed KL Rahul as his first Test wicket on Thursday, had Ashwin lbw – which Australia successfully checked – and had Pujara caught at short fine leg.
Rohit made a cautious start to his overnight 56 before hitting pacer skipper Pat Cummins for a six over deep square leg and another over the fence off spinner Nathan Lyon.
He mixed the right dose of caution and aggression and despite losing Ashwin and Pujara stood firm to see out the first session, as India trailed by 26 runs.
Jadeja was the hero on his first day with 5-47 against the tourists, who elected to bat first in the four-match series opener, but was bowled out shortly after tea.
