Ravindra Jadeja accused of cheating while applying 'ointment' on index finger; Team India gives clarification

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Ravindra Jadeja was accused of cheating by the Australian media on Thursday when the southpaw delivered a 5/47 spell to demolish the visitors for 177 during India vs Australia 1st Test on Thursday.

Ravindra Jadeja was recorded on camera applying something on his spinning finger, triggering a debate on what it was.

A video made its way to social media, showing Jadeja receiving something from his teammate Mohammed Siraj and then applying and rubbing that on his left index finger, something that had Australian media and a former player interested.

When a fan shared the footage with former Australia captain Tim Paine, he replied, "interesting".

However, a BCCI source told PTI that it was an "ointment for pain relief for the sore finger".

A report by ESPNcricinfo has said that immediately after play ended on Day 1, Jadeja, captain Rohit Sharma and the team manager were shown a video clip of the left-arm spinner's actions. Match-referee Pycroft, it is understood, wanted to just inform them about the incident and no charge has been laid against Jadeja. The Australian team hasn't brought the attention of the referee to this matter. However, the referee has the right to invegest such matters independently.

David Warner and Steve Smith, who are part of the visiting side, served bans for their role in the ball-tampering scandal in 2018 in South Africa