Former India spinner R Ashwin laughed off the accusations that Jasprit Bumrah tampered with the ball after something fell out of his shoe as he changed his shoe in the first innings of the recent BGT 2024 Test in Sydney.

Australia clinched a 3-1 series triumph with a dramatic and tense win at the Sydney Cricket Ground, reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after India dominated the rivalry for a decade.

Travis Head and Beau Webster led Australia to a six-wicket victory in difficult batting circumstances, with India missing their strike bowler and finest player, Jasprit Bumrah.

Due to reported back spasms, Bumrah bowled only a few overs in the first innings and none at all in the second, leaving Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj in charge of India's bowling.

That didn't mean Bumrah didn't have time to get embroiled in scandal, as opposing fans jumped on his case after TV cameras caught him with an apparently suspicious object.

Bumrah was removing and re-wearing his shoes when a little rounded object dropped out and he tucked it into his pocket. Some Australian fans attempted to make a big issue out of it, claiming that ICC should investigate what it was, alleging that it was a foreign object.

However, observant watchers noted that Bumrah was removing an inconspicuous piece of toe-wrapping tape, including his former teammate Ravichandran Ashwin.

“That’s a finger protection pad,” R Ashwin posted on X.  

Jasprit Bumrah won the Player of the Series award for his 32 wickets in 5 Tests in BGT 2024.