Akash Deep Faces Backlash from Australian Media Following Ravindra Jadeja Controversy

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In the lead-up to the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Akash Deep has found himself embroiled in controversy with Australian media.

Following similar accusations against Ravindra Jadeja, the young cricketer was criticized for addressing questions in Hindi during a press conference on Sunday. According to Channel 7, Akash Deep's choice to respond in his native language was a continuation.

They perceived this as a pattern of Indian players "refusing to engage" with Australian reporters. The channel labeled this as a deliberate "message" from the Indian camp. The tensions trace back to an incident involving Ravindra Jadeja.

The all-rounder reportedly spoke only in Hindi during a press conference on December 21, a move that frustrated some Australian journalists who were unable to get their questions answered. However, the Indian media contingent has consistently denied these claims, stating that Jadeja simply responded in the language he was most comfortable with.

"Probably a few things unfolding that haven't gone down well in their [Indian] camp," said former Australian cricketer Simon Katich, now a commentator for Channel 7. "It's probably just the mind games being played given the enormity of the series."

Virat Kohli and Indian Media Defend Players

The relationship between the Indian team and Australian media has deteriorated further following accusations against Akash Deep. Indian journalists have strongly criticized these reports, emphasizing that they had even helped Australian reporters by asking their forwarded questions during the presser.

The situation has been aggravated by an earlier incident where Virat Kohli confronted an Australian outlet for filming his family at the airport. The issue of player privacy has since added to the tension between the two sides.

The fallout has also reportedly led to the cancellation of a friendly T20 match between Indian and Australian journalists, organized by Cricket Australia. The game was intended to foster camaraderie but was called off due to escalating hostilities.