NEW DELHI: India pacer Akash Deep lauded seasoned campaigner Jasprit Bumrah for his unwavering support and guidance, which has been instrumental in helping him perform better during his maiden tour of Australia.
Akash Deep, who did not feature in the playing XI for the first two Tests against Australia, was brought in to replace Harshit Rana for the third Test in Brisbane.
In the first innings, Akash Deep bowled with great intent but was unlucky as he repeatedly went past the outside edge, particularly against Australia’s star batter Steve Smith. Despite his efforts, he managed to pick up only one wicket in the first innings.
The second innings, however, saw a marked improvement as Akash Deep bowled impeccable lines and lengths, dismissing Nathan McSweeney and Mitchell Marsh to leave his mark on the game.
Reflecting on his duel with Steve Smith, Akash Deep said: “When I beat him (Steve Smith) with my deliveries, for a moment, I thought, ‘Luck kaisa hai mera’ (What kind of luck do I have?). Then I realised that the wicket is not in my hands. We can only bowl well, target good areas, and focus on what is within our control.”
On the challenges of bowling with the old ball, Akash added: “It’s not that we are unable to perform with the old ball. Luck is a big factor here. If you watch the footage of the previous match, you’ll see Travis Head struggled at the start. He tried to pull and drive but managed to survive. As bowlers, we just aim to stay disciplined and bowl well.”
Speaking about Bumrah’s influence, Akash said: “This is my first stint in Australia. Jassi bhai gave me some valuable tips that really helped me a lot. You can trust Jassi bhai—he makes things easy, not complicated, with his advice.”
Akash Deep also shared Bumrah’s words of wisdom: “‘Jyada excited nahi hona hai, discipline mein ek jagah pe bowling karna hai. Jaise bowling karte aaye ho waise hi bowling karte raho’ (Don’t get overly excited. Stay disciplined, bowl consistently in one area, and stick to what you’ve been doing).”
