New Delhi, Jan 16 (NationPress) In light of rumors suggesting discord within the squad during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Indian fast bowler Akash Deep refuted these claims, stating that external factors do not disrupt the team's cohesion as players concentrate on their contributions during matches.

Following a significant 184-run defeat to Australia in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne, speculation arose regarding discontent in the Indian dressing room, with reports indicating that head coach Gautam Gambhir had expressed, 'Bahut ho gaya' (I’ve had enough) during his address, highlighting a 'far from ideal' atmosphere.

"It doesn’t really matter... During the game, a player’s focus is always on what they can contribute to the team because in Test cricket, you have to be fully engaged throughout. If you’re even a little bit detached from the game, you could miss out on the entire match. I don’t think these outside factors really matter to the team, because everyone’s focused on what’s happening on the field," Akash explained to IANS.

The rivalry between India and Australia in Test cricket is regarded as one of the most esteemed in the five-day format. The two nations share a competitive history, making the cricket fields resemble battlegrounds filled with verbal exchanges and physical confrontations.

"That was the highest level of cricket. In Test cricket, there is no higher level in the world right now. The competition was very tough, and it felt like we were playing a five-day match with the intensity of a T20. It was also really enjoyable because when you get fully involved in Test cricket, you don’t even realize it's a five-day match. For me, it was the best series as a fast bowler to learn from," Akash stated.

World No.1 fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah excelled in the series for India, taking 32 wickets at an average of 13.06. His lethal bowling left Australia struggling on several occasions, earning him the Player of the Series accolade.

Akash acknowledged that while he enjoys partnering with Bumrah, it also adds pressure since batsmen tend to direct their focus on the other bowler when Bumrah is not conceding runs.

"When you bowl alongside such a great bowler, there is extra pressure. Bumrah bhai doesn’t give away runs and takes wickets, so the batter tends to focus on putting pressure on the other bowler. I really enjoy bowling with him. It’s good to discuss the small technical issues in bowling with him and learn from him.

After India's 1-3 defeat in the Test series against Australia, the team management has implemented strict regulations for national players participating in domestic cricket. Consequently, players like wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill have confirmed their availability for the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches with their respective teams.

"Our domestic cricket will rise significantly when players like Rohit, Virat, and Pant compete in it. This will energize not only the opposition bowlers but also our own team. When we play with this mindset, the game will naturally grow, and the level of competition in domestic cricket will rise as well," Akash expressed.