Akash Deep played an instrumental role in helping India level the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2 against England.
The right-arm seamer featured in three of the five Test matches, claiming 13 wickets — including a four-for and a five-for. He left everyone stunned with a maiden half-century in the final Test at The Oval.
Sent in as a nightwatchman, Akash smashed 66 runs off 94 balls with the help of 12 boundaries, which eventually propelled India to a thrilling six-run victory.
In an interaction with Sports Tak, Akash Deep credited his success to the invaluable guidance from Indian cricketing legends such as Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and coach Gautam Gambhir.
“Virat bhai always tells me ‘practice makes a man perfect’. He also advised that if you have any doubts about something, you should practice it so much that the doubts vanish completely," Akash said.
Dhoni’s advice also stuck with him as he recalled, “cricket is a game of confidence, and that confidence comes with practice."
Akash appreciated head coach Gambhir for his unwavering trust in players, saying, “You have something within you that you don’t even know, and you can achieve great things in cricket."
On the final day at The Oval, England were 35 runs away from chasing a 374-run target, with four wickets in hand. However, Mohammed Siraj ripped through their lower order, ending the innings at 367.
Akash Deep conceded that there were moments when they feared defeat, but a sudden burst of swing, the roar of the Indian crowd, and constant encouragement from Siraj and KL Rahul lifted the team’s spirits.
“It was an extremely important game, and that particular day was even more crucial. We were already trailing behind in the series and, despite playing well, the results weren’t going our. However, in the end, it’s the result that matters. There were moments when the wicket felt very flat and we thought we might lose. But when the moment came and the ball started to swing, and the Indian crowd began cheering for them, we realised we could win. The continuous cheering from Siraj, KL Rahul, and Akash made a huge difference, filling them with positive energy," Akash remarked.
