Ravindra Jadeja made a sensational comeback to international cricket with a five-wicket haul as he spun his web around the Australian batting lineup on Day 1 of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Jadeja was too good for the Australian batters as they were bundled out for just 177 on the first day itself. Before Nagpur’s Test, the southpaw last played for India in Asia Cup 2022 where he sustained a knee injury and was out of action for nearly 5 months.

However, the Australian media found a way to target Jadeja alleging him of foul play based on a short video clip shared on social media. The claim was further fueled by former skipper Tim Paine and England’s Michael Vaughan. Fox Cricket claimed Ravindra Jadeja was applying an ‘interesting substance’ on his bowling finger during the day’s play.

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Jadeja applies ‘ointment on sore finger’, triggers debate

Meanwhile, Cricketnext has learned that the ‘substance’ was an ointment for his sore finger. The 34-year-old was out of action for nearly five months and is not used to such a heavy workload. Jadeja bowled 22 over on day one. The Australian duo of Alex Carey and Peter Handscomb were at the crease with the visitors at 120-5, when Jadeja came to bowl his 16th over. The left-arm spinner had already taken three wickets, giving away 30 runs. In a video that is now going viral on social media, Jadeja, as the Australian media have alleged, took something from the hands of one of his teammates.

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

Meanwhile, Jadeja finished his spell with figures of 5-47 as Australia was restricted to a total of 177, while Team India finished the day at 77/1, with Indian skipper Rohit Sharma smashing a half-century. While it wasn’t the first time when the Australian media targeted the Indian team in this series as earlier they labeled Nagpur’s pitch as doctored for a couple of dry patches. While they also questioned the credentials of DRS which was taken by India in the second over on Day 1 and resulted in Usman Khawaja’s wicket.

Ishan Kishan had his work cut out on the first day of India’s practice session at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha Nagpur on the practices pitches just outside the main ground and under the watchful eyes of the batting coach Vikram Rathour. the 24-year-old had his trial by spin.

With Rishabh Pant out of action for at least 18 months, India does not have their Gabba hero for two years on. From 2021 to 2013 a lot has changed, yet certain things seem to have remained the same. Ishan Kishan, Filling in the Pant void has been one of the major talking points leading up to the series even if it may be a myopic view to only look at what Pant brings to the table with regards to changing the complexion of the game in just over an hour with his sheer audacity.

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Suryakumar Yadav might play a cameo on the spinning track, Ishan Kishan on the trump

The larger question team India will be asking is how to replace Pant the wicketkeeper. Back to Ishan Kishan, and after his stellar 200-run knock against Bangladesh in the ODIs, the former Under-19 skipper has blown hot and cold – more cold than hot in terms of his batting and a few drops in the recently concluded New Zealand series did not inspire much confidence behind the stumps as well.

At the Jamtha, as India’s opening pair – in all likelihood KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma –  has the first crack at the practice session with Mohammad Shami and Mohammad Siraj bowling in tandem, followed by Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav at the centre wicket – Ishan Kishan was toiling away against a host of net bowlers – predominately spinners which included Jayant Yadav, Washington Sundar, Saurabh Kumar, Rahul Chahar and few local bowlers. Ishan Kishan had an extended session with regular inputs from Rathore.