Michael Vaughan demands answers as fans ERUPT on social media after India star Ravindra Jadeja is seen applying unknown substance to his spin finger during five-wicket haul against Australia

2023-02-09 19

A questionable moment involving India star Ravindra Jadeja has sparked debate on social media, with former Australia and England stars Tim Paine and Michael Vaughan weighing in on the row.

During his five-wicket tear on Day One in Nagpur, the spin bowler was seen approaching a teammate and appeared to take something off the hand of one of his teammates.

He then rubbed his hands and spin his fingers near and around the ball, although it remains unclear what exactly happened.


'What is it he is putting on his spinning finger? Never seen this …' he tweeted.

Jadeja finished the innings with figures of 5-42 with the tourists bowled out for 177. India wrapped up Day One with a total of 1-77.

After electing to bat first on a turning pitch at VCA Stadium, Pat Cummins' team was skittled for 177 in 64 overs, before India raced to 1-76 at stumps.

India captain Rohit Sharma (56 no) belted Cummins for 13 runs off the first over in an ominous start to the home side's innings.

Cummins and Scott Boland, in his first Test outside of Australia, are the visitors' only quicks as selectors opted to pick debutant spinner Todd Murphy (1-13) to partner star veteran Nathan Lyon.

Young Victorian Murphy, who is Australia's 465th Test player, claimed his maiden international wicket just before stumps, hanging onto a catch off his bowling to dismiss KL Rahul (20).

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (0 no) was sent out as a night watchman, surviving the last over.

Australia's vulnerabilities facing the turning ball were badly exposed as they lost eight wickets to spin, with star allrounder Ravi Jadeja taking 5-42.