The Border Gavaskar 2024-25 Series recently witnessed an off-field controversy involving Ravindra Jadeja.

The left-arm spinner addressed a press conference on Saturday ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the proceedings of it have not impressed some media outlets it seems. 

Channel 7 carried out a report claiming Jadeja “refused” to answer questions from their reporters in English and the TV reporters, who had travelled all the way after being “invited” and were left “bemused by the “strange and frosty media conference at the MCG.”

Notably, Jadeja addressed the media after India’s first practice session at the MCG. The press conference proceeded smoothly until Jadeja concluded the session and decided to return to practice. At this point, an Australian journalist expressed frustration, displaying anger over Jadeja not answering any questions in English.

A couple of Australian journalists were rude towards the Indian media manager, asking their camerapersons to keep recording their conversation with the Indian media manager. Their behaviour bordered on the aggressive.

Australian media: One question in English? 

Team manager: sorry, we don’t have time now. You can see the team bus is waiting. 

Aussie media: Can’t we take one question in English?

Manager: This was organised mainly for the travelling Indian media. 

Aussie media: The organisation is hopeless.

This incident comes a couple of days after Channel 7 invaded India legend Virat Kohli’s privacy by filing him with his children without his consent at the Melbourne airport. Although there is no written rule that stops the media from filming a superstar like Kohli in the public domain, his family, especially his young children, could have been spared. Moreover, the aggressive reporting, claiming Kohli lost his cool and had a heated exchange with a female reporter on the same channel, was also questionable.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy stands at 1-1, and before the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, it appears that tension is not limited to the cricketers on the field.

A jailbreak at the Gabba has brought a palpable sense of relief in the India camp, while giving rise to hope their misfiring top order will finally come good in more batting-friendly conditions in the final two Tests against Australia.

India snatched a draw in the rain-blighted third Test in Brisbane despite yet another top order debacle that left them reeling at 74-5 in reply to Australia’s 445.

Number seven batter Ravindra Jadeja inspired a spirited rearguard action and India’s final pair of Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah combined in a 47-run partnership to stave off follow-on.

While India managed to keep the five-Test series level at 1-1 heading into the Boxing day Test in Melbourne, the fragility of their top order remains a major concern for the tourists.

In five completed innings so far in the series, only once have India managed an opening stand of more than 12 runs.

The lone exception came in the second innings of the series opener in Perth where Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul forged a 201-run partnership to set up their comprehensive victory.

The poor starts meant on three out of those five occasions, India posted sub-200 scores, including twice in the day-night second Test in Adelaide, which Australia won by 10 wickets.

There is a growing feeling in the camp, though, that the worst is behind them and that batting will be easier in the last two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.

“Whatever happened today, it gave us confidence ahead of Melbourne,” India captain Rohit Sharma told reporters on Wednesday.

“We’re aware we have to start from scratch, conditions are different there and the ball may not move around so much there like it did here.”

Rohit’s own struggle with form is symptomatic of the greater malaise afflicting the Indian top order.

The 37-year-old, who missed the opening test to be with his newborn son in Mumbai, has just one fifty in his last 13 Test innings.

The opener has moved down to the middle order in his bid to regain form but managed a highest score of 10 in three innings.

“I have not batted well, there is no harm in accepting that,” Rohit said, denying he was feeling under pressure.

“As long as my mind, my body and my feet are moving well, I’m pretty happy with how things are panning out for me.”

India need to win both matches to make the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the third time in a row without having to rely on other results.

Champions Australia need two wins and a draw in their next four Tests, which include two in Sri Lanka, to be sure of qualification.

India’s premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Wednesday surprised the cricketing world by announcing his retirement with immediate effect in the middle of the Test series against Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Was this retirement anticipated, or does it come as a surprise?

As Rohit Sharma pointed out, and Ravichandran Ashwin himself confirmed, this was a personal choice. Clearly, it’s a decision that has come straight from the off-spinner.

During the fifth Day of Brisbane Test, visuals of Ravichandran Ashwin and Virat Kohli engrossed in a deep conversation have sparked retirement rumours on social media.

A visibly emotional Ashwin was hugged by Kohli.

It was evident that, Sundar being chosen ahead of Ashwin in Perth, might have played a role in pushing him towards this ultimate choice. 

Fans over Social media were trying to decode what the chat might have been around.

Even former India allrounder Sanjay Bangar speculated if Ashwin is retiring from international cricket.

So, what prompted this sudden decision of retirement?

Without an official statement from Ashwin himself, we can only speculate.

However, the situation surrounding his exclusion from the team can’t be overlooked.

Ashwin has endured considerable frustration in recent years, often being left out of the playing XI despite his solid form.

What must have been most painful is the repeated choice by different coaches and captains to keep him sidelined, especially in overseas Tests.

Perhaps the events in Australia were the final trigger.

This is a blow that Indian cricket must shoulder.