IND vs AUS: The Border-Gavaskar Trophy When players clash on the field during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, it’s often seen as a sign of an aggressive attitude in the game, since players are out there to win. However, the Indian team is also facing criticism off the field. The Australian media previously targeted Virat Kohli, and now Ravindra Jadeja has become their focus. Former Australian captain Michael Clarke isn’t surprised by this. He commented that the Indian team had already decided how they would behave off the field. No Press Conferences from Dhoni and Sachinn Michael Clarke shared his honest opinion about the controversy surrounding Ravindra Jadeja’s pre-match press conference. He pointed out that in the past, MS Dhoni didn’t speak to the media before matches, and Sachin Tendulkar followed the same approach. On ESPN’s Around the Wicket show, Clarke said, “Honestly, I don’t think much has changed. I’ve seen Indian teams come here, and their captain MS Dhoni didn’t hold a single press conference throughout the Test series. Even when Sachin decided to talk to the media, there were many restrictions on him. This has been the case for a long time, so I like that they are now putting someone out there.”
What Sparked the Controversy with Jadeja? Before the Boxing Day Test, Jadeja answered questions from the media only in Hindi. The BCCI’s media manager explained that Jadeja couldn’t take questions in English because he had to catch a bus. This upset the Australian media, which targeted Jadeja, accusing him of “refusing” to answer questions in English. However, the truth is that Jadeja had no role in this. The press meeting was only for Indian media, and all questions were asked in Hindi, so Jadeja responded in Hindi. The Indian Team’s Pre-Determined Stance Clarke mentioned that the Indian team had already indicated what their behavior would be like off the field before heading to Australia. He referred to Gautam Gambhir’s press conference in Mumbai, where Gambhir directly responded to a question about Virat’s form. Clarke said, “I think they made it clear before leaving India how they would conduct themselves upon arriving in Australia. They will stick to their goals and plans. Gambhir made this clear in the first press conference.” However, the 2015 World Cup-winning captain noted that these issues wouldn’t bother the Indian team, as teams are affected more by what happens on the field than by outside matters.
Fourth Test to be Played in Melbourne India and Australia are currently tied 1-1 in their five-match Test series, with three matches already played. The fourth Test is set to take place tomorrow, December 26, in Melbourne. Team India has been on a winning streak in the Boxing Day Test for the past two series, and they are eager to secure their third victory at this venue. On the other hand, Australia is also gearing up for the match and has made two changes to their lineup. Sam Constas will be making his debut, while Scott Boland returns to the team in his hometown.
