NEWS
Follow UsIn what was a heartwarming gesture, Virat Kohli gifted a brand new bat to Akash Deep before the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, which India won by 280 runs. Akash Deep, however, will never use that bat and will keep it as a “souvenir”.
“Virat bhaiya ne khud se bat diya tha [Virat bhaiya himself gave me the bat]. He must have observed something about my batting. I didn't ask for it; he came to me and asked, 'Bat chaiye kya tujhe?' Who wouldn’t want a bat from Virat bhaiya? He is a legend. I was very happy to hear his words and wanted that bat,” the Indian paceman told the Times of India.
“He asked me what kind of bat I use while batting, and I just smiled—I didn't have words. Then he said, 'Yeh le, rakh le yeh bat.' I will never play with that bat; it is a big gift from Virat bhaiya, and I will keep it as a souvenir on the wall of my room. I even got his autograph on the bat.”
Akash Deep got the chance to bat in the first Test and scored 17 runs in the first innings. The right-armer from Bengal bowled 11 overs in the match and dismissed Zakir Hasan and Mominul Haque off consecutive deliveries. This was Akash Deep’s second Test. The 27-year-old made his debut against England in Ranchi in February, picking up three wickets.
“The experience has been excellent so far. I have learned a lot. As a fast bowler, you need to adapt to any condition and situation, and that's how you learn. I decided to bowl the way I have been bowling; I didn't want to experiment or change anything,” he said.
“As fast bowlers, we need to assess the conditions and analyze the batsmen, and that’s what I do during the match. My focus is always on the batsman. I don't put extra burden on myself because it leads to pressure. I just try to stick to the basics and focus on the team's plans.
“India is not a team that adjusts its plans according to the opposition. They play with the same plan against any opponent. India always dominates. It doesn't matter whether they are facing England, New Zealand, Australia, or Bangladesh. We just want to go out and play cricket, no matter who we are playing against.”
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Akash Deep is doing what currently-injured Mohammed Shami has been doing for India for years. Shami might not have played a home Test this entire year, but this feeling of inevitability he brings to the table has not been missed. That is all thanks to Akash Deep, who has, in every way, proven to be the former’s spiritual successor with the ball so far.
“Responsibility—that's what I feel in the absence of a veteran bowler. He has done a lot for the country, and it feels great to play in the place of such a great bowler. Fulfilling that role and performing is a big challenge, and I feel that responsibility. I want to repay the trust that the management, captain, seniors, and coaches have shown in me. I just want to follow the process, bowl in good areas, and take wickets for my team.”
Lastly, talking about sharing the dressing room with Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep said: “I regularly talk to him and observe his bowling. Woh bilkul alag hain; bhagwan ne unhe alag hi banaya hai. I take a lot of tips from him and have learned a lot. I discussed 'mindset' with him and once asked him about the mindset while bowling to a particular batsman. He provided me with valuable tips and answers to my query.
“He is such a knowledgeable person, and that reflects in his bowling. His ability to read a batter before he bowls is amazing. He is a gifted bowler, and it’s not easy to follow in his footsteps.”
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