Ahead of the Bangladesh Test series, India pacer Akash Deep received a heartwarming gesture from none other than the legendary Virat Kohli.
The former India skipper gifted Akash a bat, and in response, the right-arm quick took to social media to express his gratitude.
Akash shared a story on Instagram with the caption, "Thanq bhaiya @virat.kohli," marking a special moment in his career.
A week later, Akash Deep spoke to TOI and narrated how he was taken aback by Kohli’s gesture as the star batter knocked his door in the hotel room and asked if he needed a bat.
As expected, Akash was left overwhelmed as requested Kohli’s autograph on the bat and him a hug.
“Virat bhaiya ne khud se bat diya tha [Virat bhaiya himself gave me the bat]. He must have observed something about my batting. I didn't ask for it; he came to me and asked, 'Bat chaiye kya tujhe?' Who wouldn’t want a bat from Virat bhaiya? He is a legend. I was very happy to hear his words and wanted that bat. He asked me what kind of bat I use while batting, and I just smiled—I didn't have words. Then he said, 'Yeh le, rakh le yeh bat.' I will never play with that bat; it is a big gift from Virat bhaiya, and I will keep it as a souvenir on the wall of my room. I even got his autograph on the bat,” an elated Akash said in the interview.
Akash Deep made his Test debut in the home series against England earlier this year. He impressed one and all in his maiden Test match at Ranchi by dismissing Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope.
The Chennai Test against Bangladesh marked the second of his red-ball career for India. He returned with a couple of scalps as the hosts won the match by 280 runs on Sunday (September 22).
“The experience has been excellent so far. I have learned a lot. As a fast bowler, you need to adapt to any condition and situation, and that's how you learn. I decided to bowl the way I have been bowling; I didn't want to experiment or change anything. As fast bowlers, we need to assess the conditions and analyze the batsmen, and that’s what I do during the match. My focus is always on the batsman. I don't put extra burden on myself because it leads to pressure. I just try to stick to the basics and focus on the team's plans,” Akash said.
“India is not a team that adjusts its plans according to the opposition. They play with the same plan against any opponent. India always dominates. It doesn't matter whether they are facing England, New Zealand, Australia, or Bangladesh. We just want to go out and play cricket, no matter who we are playing against,” he further remarked.
The 27-year-old also opened up on his rapport with India skipper Rohit Sharma, saying that he is fortunate to play under him.
“I always say it is a matter of good fortune and luck to play under Rohit bhaiya. I consider myself lucky to play under him. He is a different kind of captain; I have never seen a captain like him. He is the best captain I have played under. He is just a cool and calm person. He keeps things so simple and easy for every player, not just for me. You will be amazed at how a player of Rohit's stature deals with a youngster like a friend and brother.”
Akash Deep also showered rich praise on Jasprit Bumrah and the discussions he has had with the Indian pace spearhead.
“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,” he remarked.
(With TOI Inputs)
