Australian media and India clash during restricted presser – Nine

Nine’s Wide World of Sports
Members of the Australian media and the touring Indian camp have clashed at the MCG in tense scenes ahead of the Boxing Day Test.
Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was off-limits to local media at a press conference on Saturday afternoon, with Australian reporters prevented from asking a single question in English for the first time this series.
During the brief presser, Jadeja only answered questions from a select group of Indian reporters in Hindi before Indian team management abruptly stopped the exchange.
READ MORE: 'Got this wrong': Former skipper criticises selectors' call
READ MORE: Cowboys' injury woes worsen as forward ruled out for 2025
READ MORE: FIFA signs massive Netflix deal for Women's World Cup
Ravindra Jadeja speaks to media ahead of the Boxing Day Test. 9News
Jadeja was also 30 minutes late to the opportunity after India completed a training session at the ground.
During the tour of Australia, India's press conferences have started routinely with questions and responses in English before Hindi questions and answers to conclude.
Indian journalists have usually begun press conferences asking questions in English.
Jadeja has previously participated in press conferences in English and speaks the language fluently.
The press conference ended after just nine minutes when Indian media manager Moulin Parikh explained that their team bus was leaving.
The Australian reporters were told there was no time for more questions.
Indian team media manager Moulin Parikh clashes with members of Australian media. 9News
In a video filmed on a mobile phone camera, Australian reporters can be heard asking for one question to be asked in English.
"Are we able to ask one for Australian media?," a female reporter says.
"What's the point, we didn't have one question in English," a male journalist adds.
"That's disorganised and hopeless."
Parikh asks the cameraman to "put the camera down" before the request for one question is brushed aside and Jadeja walks off the field.
In response, some Indian journalists have claimed that the press conference was only for visiting media but Australian television and newspaper reporters were invited to attend and ask questions ahead of the marquee Test.
Ravindra Jadeja looks on. Cricket Australia via Getty Imag
The incident comes just days after Virat Kohli scolded reporters and camera operators after touching down at Melbourne Airport.
Kohli particularly took umbrage with a female 9News reporter over what he believed was a breach of his privacy despite being in a public place.
No non-consensual footage of his two children was captured, a claim Kohli levelled at the reporter.
With pressure intensifying on India after the side was outplayed in Adelaide and Brisbane to tie the series at 1-all, it appears the tourists have adopted a siege mentality.
The fourth Test gets underway at 10:30am AEDT on Thursday.
© 2024 Nine Entertainment Co.

source