Akash Deep is happily following his passion. Wearing the cap for just two Tests, the fast medium bowler from Bengal is gradually climbing the ladder. Having spent most of his youth in Uttar Pradesh, he gets sentimental regarding his origins and enthusiastically says that he feels amazed when just standing at the Green Park Stadium during his second test match against Bangladesh.
“Varanasi is where I have spent most of my life since it isn’t too far from Kanpur. The first stadium that I read about was Green Park Stadium. I thought that there would be lots of green here but when I came here…..” Akash Deep stopped, suppressing his laughter, even as the press conference room erupted into unrestrained laughter. Turning up the embarrassed smile on his face, he adds: ‘It’s just awesome to be in the stadium which was my first conception of the term stadium.’
Starting from Uttar Pradesh, with a background of bearing the brunt of domestic cricket in Bengal. He was now a crucial cog in team Indias pace attack. He believes it is his duty to contribute to the progression of this chain of history forward. “Every little child wants to wear an Indian jersey. If you are replacing a big cricketer and when you are out there that is not only the matter of pride but there is a cricketers burden as well. It is in our hands not to let down the good things that the previous international bowlers have done before me,” – Akash Deep said on Wednesday.
The harsh realities of domestic cricket made it easy for him to join the Indian team knowing his skills. “I have played so much cricket over the last two years – even post Ranji, there is Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy. As a player ashould know oneself and one’s strength. The domestic format is so good that you have developed what to do by this stage.”
The objective, he concluded and reiterated, is to extend the scope into action.” It was the first time that I came here with the mindset of being active and being able to act and operate on the spot. That is what I am trying to learn from Bumrah and Siraj. And to this order, I do not know whether it was domestic or internatiinal cricket without the help of rohit bhaiya.’ Tell me, it was that simple.”
Akash Deep’s stocks are on the rise. No doubt, the team management has been impressed with his ability to hit the deck and create seam movement. But still, he is not ready to think about making it to the tour of Australia in Nov. “I have only played two Test matches. My job is very simple, I have to go out and just find the correct length.” Mohammed Shami is about to return at the end of the surgery, but Akash Deep is really looking forward to the tour Down Under.
