Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra revealed that Australian media was trying to tarnish the reputation of the Indian team during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series down under.
Team India, captained by Virat Kohli, staged a stunning comeback in the bilateral assignment, becoming the first Asian side to win a Test series in Australia. Chopra, who was on commentary duties, told about an incident from the second match, which the hosts won by 146 runs in Perth.
Aakash Chopra accused the broadcasters of boosting up the volume of the stump mic during a heated confrontation between Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja on the field.
Aakash Chopra believed that the Australian media intended to destroy the Indian team's reputation. Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja were hurling foul words at one other while fielding within the 30-yard line.
At that moment, Chopra was present in the commentary box. According to him, the broadcaster had cut the controversial clip and shared it with the media personnel.
“They (Australian media) used to release videos. They did it in front of me when Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja had a heated exchange with each other while standing in the 30-yard circle. The broadcasters amped up the stump mic as they were abusing each other,” Chopra said on the 2 Sloggers YouTube channel.
“They cut the clip and shared it with the press in front of me. After that, when we were talking off the field, I was like, ‘What are we trying to achieve because it’s nothing’,” the former India batter added.
Ricky Ponting was present in the commentary box at that time. According to Aakash Chopra, the former Australian captain decried the event but then altered his tune once he grabbed the microphone.
“Ricky said they are ‘Making a mountain out of a molehill.’ The moment he went on air, he tore into the Indian team, and I was stunned that he had just said something else a few minutes back,” Chopra recalled.
India went on to win the 2018-19 BGT 2-1, recording their maiden Test series win in Australia.
