- Ravindra Jadeja had unusual run-in with reporters
- Allrounder only answered questions from Indian press
- Indian team says press event was for Indian media
Pressure is building ahead of the Boxing Day Test after one of India’s players had a frosty run-in with Australian journalists at the MCG, refusing to answer questions in English.
On Saturday, the Indian side faced reporters at the MCG following the drawn third Test at the Gabba that has left the Border-Gavaskar series deadlocked at 1-1.
Australian reporters were left confused when star allrounder Ravindra Jadeja only spoke in Hindi to the Indian media, leaving local media frustrated.
Journalists were heard asking if they could get an answer in English as the press conference was wrapped up after just nine minutes.
Later, the Indian media team stated that the press conference was only for the travelling Indian media – despite the Aussie reporters claiming that they were also invited.
Indian allrounder Ravindra Jadeja only spoke to media in Hindi on Saturday
Later, the Indian media team stated that the press conference was only for the Indian media
News Corp journalist Dean Ritchie labelled the incident ‘petulant and surly’. He wrote: ‘Aren’t India wonderful ambassadors for their country and Test cricket. Ravi Jadeja faced media today but refused to answer questions in English.’
The incident comes after Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli was involved in a tense altercation with reporters at Melbourne airport.
Kohli was arriving in the city alongside several members of his family and took exception with camera crews outside the arrivals lounge.
‘With my kids I need some privacy, you can’t film without asking me,’ the former India captain was overheard saying.
Explaining the situation further, 7News reporter Theo Doropoulos said: ‘It was upon seeing the waiting cameras that Kohli became a little heated over what is largely a misunderstanding when he thought the media was filming him with his children.’
Both Channel 7 and Channel 9 have said that at no stage were Kohli’s children filmed during the family’s arrival.
After turning away from the cameras, he returned to speak with reporters to clear the air. He was overheard saying: ‘If I’m alone, it’s OK. Did you ask?’
Virat Kohli was involved in a heated altercation with reporters after he arrived in Melbourne
It is understood that film crews had been at the airport to film Victorian pace bowler Scott Boland but had seen Kohli and his family also leaving the airport.
The legendary player, who has more than 270million Instagram followers, is one of the world’s most popular sports stars. In the past, he has endeavoured to keep his family out of the public eye.
The fourth Test begins on Boxing Day before the series heads to Sydney.Â
