Ravindra Jadeja controversy: Aussie media targetting Ravindra Jadeja is boorish behaviour

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Symptomatic of the malaise afflicting Aussie sports journalism, they have slammed Ravindra Jadeja needlessly. His crime, he spoke in Hindi, a language he is comfortable with.

First things first, Jadeja's interaction on Saturday was with a large entourage of the Indian media.

It was not an official and mandatory press conference. After Jadeja had finished answering in Hindi, he left the MCG. In no time, the Aussie media lashed out, said many things about Jadeja, which was definitely not needed. It is fine to bait the Indians, play mind games, and do more, as a way to ruffle feathers in the BGT Series . That is to be done by the Aussie cricketers, not famous TV channels.

Indeed, the media job is one of being responsible. Report facts, not write fiction or say some rubbish on air. Was not Virat Kohli targeted when he landed at the Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne three days back. Ok, you wanted his 'snaps' and the family, go do it. When he argued with a reporter, even that became 'news' for TV channels. It is clear, the Aussie media is panicking more than Pat Cummins in this series, level at 1-1. The Boxing Day Test starts on December 26 and the media wants 'news.' Targetting two players, Kohli and Jadeja is proof this is not the same Aussie media which fans loved before when legends like Richie Benaud commentated. Right now, they are worse than some language/regional channels in India which spew venom.

What's the problem with Jadeja speaking in Hindi, really? Can not the Aussies understand and respect the cricketer. Are they insisting he speaks in English? Sample this, when Kapil Dev did not know good English many decades ago, nobody maligned him. He did take English speaking courses and is now one of the most eloquent speakers. There have been other Indian cricketers as well who did not know Hindi, but learnt it. Notably, R.Ashwin. The way Ravindra Jadeja has faced flak from the Aussie media, it is clear they want to target him after his superb knock in the Gabba Test. He will not get affected.

A few things for the Aussie media, nowhere in the world is it mandatory to speak English. Even when there is a formal meeting between two heads of States, English is not insisted upon. When Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at any official interaction, he will speak in Russian.

There will be an interpretor readily available. At the same time, if PM Modi speaks in Hindi, translation will be available for the Russian media. It is the same practice for even other nations where heads of State insist on speaking in their own language. In the end, what matters is communication. You cannot go to France and expect Emmanuel Macron to deliver a speech in English, compulsorily.

Back to sports, Rafael Nadal loves speaking in Spanish. Of course, he would separately speak in English as well at the Grand Slams as well, though not his best language. Some of the phrases he used in English were a delight, but may not have been the most perfect.

In 2011, when he spoke of his foot trauma at Wimbledon, he said: I put my foot to sleep." A few were foxed, including this writer. He had been taking pain killer injections and nerve blockers, which is basically local anaesthesia. The message was conveyed: Period. Nobody mocked Rafa in Britain.

French is another language spoken in sports arenas, so is German and Italian. You will not expect Lionel Messi to speak to fans back in Argentina in English. The beauty of each language is communication. Whether it is an athlete speaking or running commentary, it cannot be mocked. Then again, if the Indian media starts mocking the Aussie accent in English, what happens. When they say mate, it sounds like might. Just one example!

Last but not the least, today one has access to all kinds of software to use a translator for text as well as audio. Maybe, the Aussies need this education. Pardon the Ignoramus!