Young pacer Akash Deep has showered rich praise on skipper Rohit Sharma, who is drawing a lot of flak these days for his flop show in the recently held Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India lost 1-3 in Australia.
Rohit was all over the place in the marquee series, managing just 31 runs in five innings at an abysmal average of 6.20 -- the lowest by a touring captain on Australian soil.
This subpar performance has sparked speculation about his potential retirement from the longest format of the game.
Amid question marks over his leadership and his future in Test cricket, Akash has come out in Rohit’s support, saying that there’s no better captain than him.
“I’ve said this before and will say it again—there’s no better captain than Rohit bhai. He’s the best leader in the world. I’m lucky to have played under him," Akash was quoted as saying by Times of India.
“In the BGT, he played the way he always has, but luck wasn’t on his side. That’s what great leaders do—they prioritise the team over themselves. Rohit bhai’s leadership has always been inspiring, making it easier for newcomers like me to perform. He doesn’t complicate things. Sometimes, when things don’t go your way, a good leader guides you through those moments. Rohit bhai is that leader. He’s the backbone of our bowling unit. He always says, “Tu aise daal, agar ye karega to aise hoga. Tu daal, main hoon na" (Bowl like this; if he reacts a certain way, I’ll handle it). His support and encouragement are invaluable," he added.
Akash Deep was also effusive in praise of Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who finished the tour of Australia as the leading wicket-taker with 32 scalps to his name.
Akash comapred Bumrah to Brahmastra, who can perform in any condition or situation. “Bumrah bhai is like our Brahmastra (ultimate weapon). His spells are crucial for us. Every era has a standout player, and this is Bumrah’s era for Team India. Whatever he touches turns to gold. The team has immense trust and faith in him. He’s a world-class bowler who can perform in any condition or situation. He troubles batters and sends them back. He knows exactly where and how to bowl to each batter. For him, workload isn’t the priority; the team is," he remarked.
