Akash Deep on Kohli and Rohit. (Source – BCCI)
Bengal speedster Akash Deep, who impressed with bat and ball during the third Test against Australia in Brisbane, was all praise for his senior players during a recent interview. The 28-year-old appreciated the contributions of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah, who have helped him take rapid strides in international cricket.
While speaking about Bumrah, Deep stated that little input from the Indian vice-captain has helped him a lot. The Dehri-born said that Bumrah advised him not to get excited by the amount of assistance the pitch was offering to the seamers and this helped him bowl well.
“This is my first time in Australia. I trust Jasprit Bumrah and the little inputs that he gives help a lot. The things that he says are not complicated and that clarity helps a lot. Like he said that do not get excited by the help in the pitch, and that helped me bowl well,” Deep said while speaking to the press on Sunday, December 22, after a net session.
The right-arm pacer, who has taken 13 wickets from six Test matches so far in his career, credited Kohli and Rohit for their constant feedback.
“The fact that we do not look novices while playing our first match in Australia – a lot of that credit goes to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who constantly give feedback to the bowlers,” Deep stated.
As a cricketer, we only have process, the result is not in our hand: Akash Deep
Deep said that he is more focused on the process than the result. He revealed that he emphasises sticking to his lines and lengths rather than trying extravagant things.
“As a cricketer, we only have process, the result is not in our hand. What I try to do is stick to my discipline, to my lines and lengths and hope that it works out,” Akash Deep said.
Australia have brought in the talented Sam Konstas, who will open the innings with Usman Khawaja, for the fourth Test, replacing Nathan McSweeney. However, Deep isn’t too perturbed as he said that the focus of the team is to bowl well and make the most of the new ball.
It is good for us that Australia have made changes. They have brought in a new batter (Sam Konstas) but we have played him. Nothing new for us. We don’t think about who comes in, who goes out, our job is to bowl well and I want to do that,” he added.
“Our mindset is to exploit the new ball. They are facing issues with the new ball. The plan is to attack in the first 30 overs,” concluded the India pacer on the matter.