Former Indian cricketer and commentator Akash Chopra shared a shocking revelation about the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, revealing an incident during the Perth Test where tensions erupted within the Indian cricket team.
Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja had a heated argument on the field, and Chopra revealed that the Australian broadcasters exaggerated the issue by increasing the volume of their microphones, trying to create unnecessary controversy around the team.
The cricket pundit also revealed that the former Australian captain Ricky Ponting He strongly criticised the Indian team after the incident, despite it being an internal matter.
Despite these distractions, India, under the leadership of Virat Kohli, created history by becoming the first Asian team to win a Test series on Australian soil, recording a 2-1 victory.
Kohli’s aggressive approach to red-ball cricket baffled the Australians, making the series a significant achievement for the Indian team.
Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra recently shared his experience at the 2018 Border-Gavaskar Trophy during a podcast on the YouTube channel 2 Sloggers.
Aakash Chopra said he realised while working as a commentator for Channel 7 that when India plays in AustraliaThey are not only facing the Australian cricket team, but also the entire nation, including the local press.
He highlighted an incident where Ishant and Jadeja had an altercation on the field of play. Aakash Chopra further revealed that the Australian announcers amplified the microphone audio and distributed the heated exchange to the media, blowing it out of proportion.
Aakash Chopra reveals Ricky Ponting’s shocking change of tone on 2018 Perth Test controversy
The commentator further recalled how, despite private discussions downplaying the event, Ponting publicly criticised the Indian team, which surprised him by the sudden change of tone.
Aakash Chopra said in a podcast on YouTube channel 2 Sloggers: “They used to post videos; they did it in front of me when Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja had a heated argument with each other while standing in the 30-yard circle. The announcers turned up the microphone volume while insulting each other. They cut the clip and shared it with the press in front of me.
After that, when we were talking outside the field, I was thinking, “What are we trying to achieve because it’s nothing?” Then Ricky was there with us and he said that thing about “making a mountain out of a molehill.” The moment he went up in the air, he attacked the Indian team and I was surprised that he had said something else a few minutes earlier.
That incident made me realise that the Indian flag is more important: Aakash Chopra
Meanwhile, Chopra recalled how that incident made him think differently when commentating on Australia. A heated exchange between Ishant and Jadeja made him realise that neutrality is sometimes not possible, especially when commentating on India-Australia matches.
The former Indian batsman further revealed that Channel 7 was very kind at the time as they called him to the commentary booth even though he did not get time to present India’s case.
Chopra explained that disagreements between players are normal in any team. However, the following day, the Australian media sensationalised the incident, with headlines suggesting an internal conflict within the Indian team.
Chopra concluded by saying, “Channel 7 called me to present India’s case. I said there is no team where players don’t have disagreements; it is a game played by adults. The next day when we lost the Perth Test, I was driving somewhere and picked up a newspaper and the front page story was about Ishant and Jadeja with the headline ‘There is infighting in the Indian cricket team’. It was front page news. So, I understood that you have to leave the neutral commentary when you are playing against Australia in Australia and then understand that the Indian flag is more important.”
