Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja's handling of the match ball during the opening innings of this week's Nagpur Test has raised concerns among the cricketing world, including former England captain Michael Vaughan.
Jadeja, who was India's best performer on the first day of the first Test with bowling figures of 5/47, was filmed applying a substance to his finger that was handed to him by a teammate.
The spinner then used his finger to grip the ball midway through his bowling spell during the second session of Thursday's Test, where Australia was positioned at 5/120.
How do you we feel about this?? Little bit of vasso on the ball… Jadeja is putting himself in a world of trouble for ball tampering.. India already doctored a dodgy pitch.. #AUSvIND #vassogate pic.twitter.com/SBcPWiR0Kg
— Phazeoce (@phazeoce) February 9, 2023
Looking for his fourth wicket of the innings, Jadeja was reportedly applying pain-relief cream to his bowling hand, according to ESPN.
The behaviour was enough to raise the eyebrows of onlookers, with Vaughan among those questioning the incident.
“What is it he is putting on his spinning finger? Never ever seen this,” Vaughan tweeted.
What is it he is putting on his spinning finger ? Never ever seen this … #INDvsAUS https://t.co/NBPCjFmq3w
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 9, 2023
Former Australian Test captain Michael Clarke came to Jadeja's defence, supporting reports the spinner was likely requiring medical attention for his finger.
“He's bowling so much so he's probably got a blister or cut on that finger. What he should have done there, he should have given the ball to the umpire and stand in front of the umpire while he was putting it on his finger,” Clarke told Big Sports Breakfast.
“I don't look at that and think it's a thing.
“I just wish he didn't have the ball in his hand.
“If he chucks the ball to the umpire and does that I don't think there's any comment made about that. It's just the perception
“I don't think there's anything to it. I could be 100 per cent wrong.”
It is understood that both Jadeja and India captain Rohit Sharma were shown footage of the former's actions by an ICC match referee, with no charges handed down against the spinner.
India dominated the opening day of the first Test, bowling Australia out for 177 before putting 77 runs of their own on the scoreboard for the fall of just one wicket.
Play is set to resume at 3:00pm (AEDT) on Friday afternoon.
