The recent exchange between Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja and the Australian media has caused a great deal of controversy. Speaking at a press conference at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) before the Boxing Day Test, Jadeja answered questions only in Hindi, leaving some Australian journalists in the room frustrated.
The event was mainly to accommodate the traveling Indian media. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the arrangements for the session. However, some Australian journalists attended, and many were expecting a response in English. As Jadeja ended the session without answering any questions in English, several local reporters left with disappointment, terming the event “disorganized and hopeless.”
Defending the situation, the media manager of the Indian team stated that the team bus was about to leave, and therefore, they could not entertain more questions. This was not satisfactory for the aggrieved journalists. Interestingly, the Indian journalists in attendance pointed out that due to time constraints, even some of their questions were left unasked, but they did not protest over the situation.
The Australian media have criticized the manner in which Jadeja’s press conference was handled and portrayed. They claim the handling was sensational and did not respect cultural sensitivities. The critics say the expectations that Jadeja could respond in English during a session that was intended for Hindi-speaking journalists overlook the linguistic diversity inherent in international sports. In addition, the media reaction has been described as excessive, considering that similar situations related to language preferences have been tackled without incident in the past.