Tensions have been ramping up ahead of the Boxing Day Test following a press conference row that has dominated headlines over the past week.
In what has been dubbed the ‘press mess’, journalists from Australian media outlets have appeared to clash with the Indian cricket team, after they were denied the chance to ask Ravindra Jadeja a question during a press conference on Saturday.
The all-rounder only answered questions in Hindi, leaving some Aussie reporters angered, after the meeting was cancelled abruptly by Indian media manager Moulin Parikh. He had claimed that the Indian star had to get on the bus, even after Aussie reporters had asked if they could make one question in English.
One reporter was overheard on Channel 9’s broadcast of the moment calling the press conference ‘disorganised and hopeless’.
Jadeja had previously conducted press conferences in English.
The incident has been described as ‘pathetic’ and ‘disrespectful’ by some social media users.
Indian allrounder Ravindra Jadeja only spoke to media in Hindi on Saturday, sparking much drama ahead of the Boxing Day Test
Journalists had asked to get a question in English before Jadeja was whisked away
One reporter was overheard on Channel 9’s broadcast of the moment calling the press conference ‘disorganised and hopeless’
‘PETULANT & SURLY… Aren’t India wonderful ambassadors for their country and Test cricket,’ Daily Telegraph reporter Dean Ritchie said on X.
‘Ravi Jadeja faced media today but refused to answer questions in English. India media later said conference was for “travelling Indian media only”, despite Australian media being invited.’
One X user replied: ‘Shameful behaviour. Invite the media. Turn up 30 minutes late and then ignore more than 50% of the professionals there to do their job.’
The incident came just days after Virat Kohli had clashed with Channel 9 journalists after they filmed him arriving at an airport in Melbourne ahead of the Test. Kohli became incensed after he believed the camera crews had filmed his family and children who arrived with him at the airport. The camera crews have denied claims that they filmed his family.
Indian journalist Sahil Malhotra of the Times of India, hit back at Aussie reporters in a piece that claimed they had turned up to the presser uninvited.
In his article, he claimed ‘Australian media stooped to a new low today at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as they accused Ravindra Jadeja of not answering questions in English.’
But for some, including former England captain Michael Vaughan the additional tension around the series is only making this series more entertaining.
‘It adds to a huge amount of drama in the series. India are a powerhouse,’ Vaughan told the Club Prairie Fire podcast, speaking on the press conference drama.
‘They clearly think cameras at the airport and filming families is a step too far. And this is their way of reacting. It just adds more drama for me.’
Cricket great Michael Vaughan (right) believes the escalation in tensions between both camps has been a good thing for the series
The incident was branded ‘petulant’ and ‘shameful’ by some on social media
He added: ‘There are AI systems that you can use to translate Hindi into Australian English. So if they are not willing to speak in English, just put it into the system and it’ll come out as English.
‘You just quote Jadeja in what comes in the AI.
‘I like a little bit of spice in the series. I loved Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head. I guess Ravi Ashwin retiring, I didn’t like him retiring because I love to watch him carry on for a bit longer, I think he’s still got a bit to give.’
‘I like the drama, I like what it is bringing. As if the MCG Boxing Day Test needed any more drama leading into it when there’s not a spare seat in the house and you’ve got two batting line-ups that are so so vulnerable.
‘And you’ve got a bowling attacks, a bowling attack from Australia and you’ve got one bowler from India whose potentially the greatest we’ve ever seen.
‘Bring it on.’
