Jadeja’s poetic reply to ICC’s 1-Test ban
Ravindra Jadeja, who has been handed a one-Test ban after accumulating six demerit points in a 24-month period post the conclusion of the second India vs Sri Lanka Test, on Monday threw the cricket fraternity in a tizzy with a sarcastic tweet.
On Sunday, Jadeja was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for taking seven wickets in the second Test at Colombo, including five in the second innings, and scoring a vital 70 not out off a mere 85 balls which included four fours and three sixes as India completed a comprehensive win over Sri Lanka by an innings and 53 runs to seal the series.
However, Jadeja, who has been at the forefront of India’s domination in Test cricket since the last two years or so, was handed a suspension which will prevent him from playing in the third Test at Kandy where India will be fancying a 3-0 clean sweep.
The world No.1 bowler in Test cricket admitted his guilt in throwing the ball at Sri Lanka’s Malinda Pushpakumara after fielding it off his own bowling, but took to Twitter a day later to perhaps highlight what he believes was ironical.
The 28-year-old all-rounder, who enjoys fencing his bat upon bringing up half-centuries, chose a dramatic line from a Bollywood movie starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.
“Hum sharif kya hue puri duniya hi badmash ho gayi,” his post read, which means: “The entire world has gone notorious when I decided to turn good”.
Jadeja was already carrying three demerit points after running on the pitch during the Indore Test against New Zealand last year.
This is not the first time Jadeja has found himself caught in a controversy. India’s tour of England 2014 was marred by his spat with James Anderson, an ugly episode in which the Indian cricketer was charged with a Level 2 offence whereas the English bowler was handed a Level 3 offence by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for ‘abusing and pushing’ Jadeja.