The Indian all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja has received a fine of 25% match fees alongside a demerit point for breaching Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to displaying conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.

On Day 1 of the Nagpur Test against Australia, Ravindra Jadeja was seen rubbing a pain-relieving ointment to his index finger during the 46th over of Australia’s first innings on Thursday, 9 February. He had taken the cream from Mohammed Siraj’s hand and appeared to rub it onto his index finger of bowling hand with the ball in his hand as well.

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This was done without asking for permission from the on-field umpires. And in addition to the 25% match fee fine, Ravindra Jadeja was handed one demerit point as well, as it was his first offense in a 24-month period.

Here is the video of the incident:

Someone sent me this and asked me what is going on here with the ball management?? @Gampa_cricket @beastieboy07 @auscricketpod #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/sqhWtURhbr

— Menners 🎙 (@amenners) February 9, 2023

Ravindra Jadeja had no issues in admitting the offense and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing. While reaching his decision to sanction Jadeja along with the Level 1 sanction he imposed, the Match Referee was satisfied that the cream was applied to the finger purely for medical purposes.

🚨 JUST IN: India star handed penalty for ICC Code of Conduct charge during first Test against Australia!#WTC23 | #INDvAUS | Details 👇

— ICC (@ICC) February 11, 2023

The cream was not applied as an artificial substance to the ball and consequently, it did not change the condition of the ball, which would have been in breach of clause 41.3 of the ICC playing conditions – Unfair Play – The Match Ball – Changing its Condition. On-field umpires Nitin Menon and Richard Illingworth, third umpire Michael Gough and fourth umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan leveled the charge.

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Team India eventually won the game by innings and 132 runs owing to a brilliant 5-wicket haul by R Ashwin. Earlier in the game, Rohit Sharma scored a century while Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel scored half-centuries to help the hosts reach a score of 400 after Australia got bundled out for a meager score of 177 runs. 

In the second innings, Jadeja and Mohammed Shami took a couple of wickets each as the Aussies got bundled out for below-par score of 91.