Press conferences in sports are a common occurence nowadays. Usually, there aren't any mishaps that happen during these events. However, there are times when it can go off cue for whatever reason. This seems to be the case for the Indian team when two pressers was scheduled for India: a Hindi version and an English one. However, the English one barely took place.
When you are touring Australia, you are not only up against a quality team but also an invisible 12th man - The Australian media - which is not so invisible all the time. The Australian media has started playing it's tricks during the ongoing Border-Gavaska Trophy. What happened yesterday (Saturday) during India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's press conference took it to another level.
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."
The reality, however, is a lot different. Debunking Australia media's incorrect reporting.
Australian media's claim 1: "India’s Ravindra Jadeja faced reporters but the Australian media were bemused and confused when the star all-rounder refused to answer questions in English," the report read. "India’s media team pointed to reporters who were allowed to ask questions, and even acknowledged a few Australian journalists. But Jadeja only responded in his native language."
Reality: At no stage did Jadeja refuse to answer in English (he wasn’t asked a question in that lingo). He answered most of the questions in Hindi, as the Indian reporters asked questions in that language only.
Australian media's claim 2: "The press conference was then wrapped up when he told the journalists that he had to get the bus."
Reality: Jadeja didn't, at any point, say that the team bus was leaving and he had to go.
Australian media's claim 3: "India’s media team said the conference was for ‘travelling Indian media only’, even though Australian media was invited."
Reality: The press meeting was largely reserved for the travelling Indian media. The message from the Indian camp was put out on the travelling media's WhatsApp group only. The CA (Cricket Australia) representative informed the Aussies.
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.
This incident comes a couple of days after Channel 7 invaded India legend Virat Kohli's privacy by filming 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've 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.
According to a travelling Indian journalist, Kohli never lost his temper. He was, in fact, polite in placing a request for the Australian media and even shook hands with the cameraman after he was assured that the footage wouldn't be used without his permission.
Aggrieved at their treatment in Australia over the past few days, sections of India’s backroom team and travelling media have boycotted a prearranged press match against local counterparts that was meant to be played on Sunday afternoon.
The game, scheduled to be played as a T20 at Junction Oval in Melbourne, had been organised by CA as a gesture of goodwill to both media packs amid a hectic summer. The game was cancelled on Sunday after the Indian team’s media manager chose not to take part, according to three sources with knowledge of the events, who would not be named in order to speak freely.
That led to numerous members of the travelling media contingent also pulling out, making it impossible to play a formal match.
Earlier in the day, captain Rohit Sharma was hit on the knee by a throwdown at the MCG nets. After trying to bat on, he left his session and sought treatment from the team physio, in obvious pain.
India’s Test squad has had a few run-ins with media and public on this tour, starting with stringent restrictions placed on spectators watching the team train in Perth ahead of the series. The restrictions extended to an e-mail requesting that workers on the adjoining WACA Ground construction site refrain from taking photos or footage of training.
A public training session was called in Adelaide but that led to a ban on further such sessions in Brisbane and Sydney after as many as 5 000 fans turned up to watch. This was considered an unwanted distraction by the Indian team, causing subsequent sessions to be much lower in profile.
"The net sessions are very private," Rohit explained in Adelaide. "This was the first time ever that I saw so many people at the nets. When you’re training and practicing, there are a lot of conversations and those conversations are very private."
"We don’t want anybody to hear those conversations, it’s as simple as that. There’s five days of Test cricket, they can come and watch us there."
In the latest events, Akash Deep is also being targeted on the same lines where he also held a presser and only answered in Hindi, again a language he is comfortable with. Meanwhile, Channel 7 uploaded a video on their YouTube channel titling it 'Indian cricket team refuses to speak with the Australian media.'
Interestingly, the Indian media has bashed the dirty tactic of Australian media as they also highlighted how Indian reporters asked questions on behalf of Australian reporters, which was also mentioned in the video.
"Bharat Sundaresan asked a question today and your media house also asked one via an Indian journalist present there. Rubbish reporting," tweeted Subhayan Chakraborty.
The press can be unbelievable. They will say anything to garner attention. There's a strong possibility that they will make up stories if they don't get what they want. It's unfair to do this. Only writing for one side can only lead to wild speculations and accusations. It's only fair to get all information possible before making claims like these.
Additionally, everyone is entitled to their privacy. This should always be protected and never compromised, unless permission is given.