Although the images raised eyebrows, sources in the know revealed that it is common practice and permitted under ICC rules.
It is believed that the activity did not raise the suspicions of the match officials. Certain batsmen are said to use gripping cream between overs to keep their hands moist, which is completely permitted by the ICC.
In the case of bowlers, some spinners who return to action after a long break may experience tender issues in their index finger; use the cream to avoid cracks.
Jadeja is seen in a video shared on Twitter taking something from Mohammed Siraj’s hand and applying it to his left index finger. The cameras then showed the all-rounder rubbing it on his bowling finger for a brief moment while speaking with captain Rohit Sharma. Siraj had the ointment on his finger in this case, and Jadeja scooped it onto his fingers.
Jadeja finished with figures of 22-8-47-5 as Australia were bowled out for 177. He was playing a Test for India for the first time since July 2022 and making his comeback to international cricket after a knee injury.
The all-rounder mixed his stock ball, turning away from the right hander and odd one, going straight to dismiss the likes of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne on his way to picking a fifer, inspiring Australia to collapse on the first day-third session.
India finished the day at 77/1, trailing by 100 runs going into the second day.
