NEW DELHI: India fast bowler Akash Deep praised Jasprit Bumrah, who was named the ICC Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup 2024. Akash described Bumrah by saying, he has been uniquely crafted by God and mentioned that it is challenging to replicate his techniques.
Akash Deep had a notable Test debut in February against England in Ranchi, where Rahul Dravid presented him with his cap.His impressive performance, especially in the opening spell, caught attention. Due to his consistent performances in red-ball cricket, he has now been included in the 16-member squad for the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai.
Looking ahead to an upcoming series against Bangladesh, he shared his approach. Bangladesh recently achieved a 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan. He said, he won’t try to do anything different but instead focus on his strength and perfect areas to bowl.
The 27-year-old bowler has made an impressive start to the new domestic season in the Duleep Trophy. Playing for India A, he achieved a match haul of 9-116, although his team lost to India B.
Akash revealed his views on his bowling inspirations in a recent interaction. When asked to name a bowler he looks up to, Akash stated, “I don’t follow just one bowler too much.” He expressed admiration for Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a unique talent. However, Akash conceded that learning from Bumrah is challenging, stating that Bumrah is tough to follow due to his distinctive style.
“Every bowler in the world has their own unique action and technique, and each one is great in their own way. I follow Rabada a bit, and Bumrah is a legend. It’s hard to follow him. ‘Bumrah bhai ko bhagwan ne alag hi bana k bheja hai (He has been uniquely crafted by God), and I can’t learn everything from him. I also observe Siraj and learn from him. I pick up small things from various bowlers, but I don’t follow just one bowler too much,” said Akash Deep as per IANS.
Akash has expressed that he feels a significant responsibility in serving his team while Mohammad Shami is away due to injury. Shami has been unavailable since delivering an outstanding performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Akash remarked, “This is a huge responsibility that I have been given, allowing me to serve my team. Shami bhai is currently injured… I see this as a responsibility and am trying my best to live up to the faith that the selectors and BCCI management have placed in me.”
Akash shared his reflections on playing his first international match under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. He praised Rohit Sharma, a T20 World Cup-winning skipper, for his ability to keep the dressing room relaxed for the team members. Akash highlighted that Rohit has the ability to keep the dressing room at ease for the team members.
“I played my first match under Rohit bhaiya in Ranchi. I was thinking about how difficult it would be to play my debut match for the country. There’s something special about him—when I played that first game, it didn’t even feel like I was playing for India. He manages things so well, talks in a way that puts you at ease, and gives simple plans that make cricket easier. Playing under him is a matter of luck for any cricketer,” he said.
Akash has expressed excitement about working under the leadership of new head coach Gautam Gambhir. He mentioned that although he hasn’t played under Gambhir yet, he had the opportunity to meet him during the Indian Premier League (IPL). Reflecting on his early cricket memories, he recalled the 2007 T20 World Cup and shared his observations of Gambhir’s dedication to the game. “The way he fights for the game of cricket makes me feel like I’ll really enjoy playing under his leadership as well,” he said.
Akash shared his views on the differences between white-ball and red-ball cricket, emphasizing the challenges of red-ball cricket. He stated that red-ball cricket demands not only physical strength but also mental resilience.
“Red-ball cricket is tough for fast bowlers. If you can survive it, you can manage white-ball cricket as well. In red-ball cricket, you play for five days, and there might be situations where you have to bowl for three to four days. That’s why physical strength is crucial, and being mentally strong is equally important. As a fast bowler, if you bowl a spell of 10-15 overs before lunch or tea, your body feels tired, and at that point, your mental strength plays a significant role,” he said.
He also mentioned his admiration for legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, citing both his skill and personality as sources of inspiration. “Sachin sir’s down-to-earth nature has inspired me since childhood. Besides his batting, I followed his personality, which kept me motivated,” he added.
Akash Deep had a notable Test debut in February against England in Ranchi, where Rahul Dravid presented him with his cap.His impressive performance, especially in the opening spell, caught attention. Due to his consistent performances in red-ball cricket, he has now been included in the 16-member squad for the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai.
Looking ahead to an upcoming series against Bangladesh, he shared his approach. Bangladesh recently achieved a 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan. He said, he won’t try to do anything different but instead focus on his strength and perfect areas to bowl.
The 27-year-old bowler has made an impressive start to the new domestic season in the Duleep Trophy. Playing for India A, he achieved a match haul of 9-116, although his team lost to India B.
Akash revealed his views on his bowling inspirations in a recent interaction. When asked to name a bowler he looks up to, Akash stated, “I don’t follow just one bowler too much.” He expressed admiration for Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a unique talent. However, Akash conceded that learning from Bumrah is challenging, stating that Bumrah is tough to follow due to his distinctive style.
“Every bowler in the world has their own unique action and technique, and each one is great in their own way. I follow Rabada a bit, and Bumrah is a legend. It’s hard to follow him. ‘Bumrah bhai ko bhagwan ne alag hi bana k bheja hai (He has been uniquely crafted by God), and I can’t learn everything from him. I also observe Siraj and learn from him. I pick up small things from various bowlers, but I don’t follow just one bowler too much,” said Akash Deep as per IANS.
Akash has expressed that he feels a significant responsibility in serving his team while Mohammad Shami is away due to injury. Shami has been unavailable since delivering an outstanding performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Akash remarked, “This is a huge responsibility that I have been given, allowing me to serve my team. Shami bhai is currently injured… I see this as a responsibility and am trying my best to live up to the faith that the selectors and BCCI management have placed in me.”
Akash shared his reflections on playing his first international match under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. He praised Rohit Sharma, a T20 World Cup-winning skipper, for his ability to keep the dressing room relaxed for the team members. Akash highlighted that Rohit has the ability to keep the dressing room at ease for the team members.
“I played my first match under Rohit bhaiya in Ranchi. I was thinking about how difficult it would be to play my debut match for the country. There’s something special about him—when I played that first game, it didn’t even feel like I was playing for India. He manages things so well, talks in a way that puts you at ease, and gives simple plans that make cricket easier. Playing under him is a matter of luck for any cricketer,” he said.
Akash has expressed excitement about working under the leadership of new head coach Gautam Gambhir. He mentioned that although he hasn’t played under Gambhir yet, he had the opportunity to meet him during the Indian Premier League (IPL). Reflecting on his early cricket memories, he recalled the 2007 T20 World Cup and shared his observations of Gambhir’s dedication to the game. “The way he fights for the game of cricket makes me feel like I’ll really enjoy playing under his leadership as well,” he said.
Akash shared his views on the differences between white-ball and red-ball cricket, emphasizing the challenges of red-ball cricket. He stated that red-ball cricket demands not only physical strength but also mental resilience.
“Red-ball cricket is tough for fast bowlers. If you can survive it, you can manage white-ball cricket as well. In red-ball cricket, you play for five days, and there might be situations where you have to bowl for three to four days. That’s why physical strength is crucial, and being mentally strong is equally important. As a fast bowler, if you bowl a spell of 10-15 overs before lunch or tea, your body feels tired, and at that point, your mental strength plays a significant role,” he said.
He also mentioned his admiration for legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, citing both his skill and personality as sources of inspiration. “Sachin sir’s down-to-earth nature has inspired me since childhood. Besides his batting, I followed his personality, which kept me motivated,” he added.
