Akash Deep performed well in the IND vs BAN 1st Test. He bagged 2 wickets in the first innings but failed to get a single wicket as spinners wreaked havoc in Chennai in the fourth innings. After India’s dominant win, Akash Deep went on to heap praises on Jasprit Bumrah. He further added that in the absence of Mohammed Shami, he gets additional responsibility.
Jasprit Bumrah spearheaded India’s pace attack in the absence of Shami. Bumrah had Siraj and Akash Deep as the pace partners for the Chennai Test. Akash Deep revealed how he takes tips and learns about the mindset developing when facing a particular batter.
Learn a Lot from Bumrah
“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,” Akash Deep told the Times of India.
The Bengal pacer reveals that Bumrah acts as the perfect senior giving him valuable tips how to improve. The speedster further claimed that he improved a lot but following the footsteps of a gifted bowler like Bumrah is difficult.
Additional responsibility in Absence of Shami
Mohammed Shami has been a major absence for Team India after his ankle injury. And this is where Akash Deep got his place in the team. He made his debut earlier this year when England visited India. And in the Chennai he played his second Test match. Akash Deep claimed that filling the shoes of Shami is huge and it gives in the sense of added responsibility.
“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,” Akash Deep concluded.