"Akash Deep on his heroics with Jasprit Bumrah at the Gabba Test: 'I wasn’t aiming to save the follow-on, my mindset was...'"
Akash shares his mindset during the crucial moment and discusses Bumrah's guidance throughout his first Test tour of Australia.
Rohit Sharma’s Team India was in a tough spot during the Gabba Test against Australia, on the brink of facing a follow-on. However, a vital partnership between Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah in the final session of Day 4 turned the game around. The duo added 47 crucial runs for the tenth wicket, helping India avoid the follow-on and securing a draw, keeping the series level at 1-1. Akash Deep came in to bat at No.11 with the score at 213/9 and showed excellent composure, blending caution with aggression. He finished with a key 31 runs off 44 balls, rescuing India from a difficult situation. The fast bowler has now shared the mindset he had while batting on Day 4.
Ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Akash Deep explained that his primary goal wasn’t to save the follow-on, but simply to stay at the crease and avoid getting out.
“As a lower-order batsman, contributions of 20-30 runs are very valuable. My mindset was just to contribute. I wasn’t focused on saving the follow-on that day; I just wanted to stay at the crease. By God’s grace, we managed to avoid the follow-on,” Akash Deep said. “When you save the match from such a situation, it boosts the confidence of the whole team. The dressing room reflected that energy; everyone was having fun and enjoying,” he added.
Akash Deep's boundary off Pat Cummins over gully confirmed India had avoided the follow-on, sparking celebrations in the Indian dressing room with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir exchanging high-fives.
Jasprit Bumrah's Role
Akash Deep didn’t play in the first two Tests against Australia, but he replaced Harshit Rana for the third Test in Brisbane. While he was unlucky in the first innings, beating the outside edge several times, he claimed just one wicket. However, the second innings saw a much-improved performance, as he bowled with precision and dismissed Nathan McSweeney and Mitchell Marsh.
Reflecting on Jasprit Bumrah's guidance, Akash Deep shared, “This is my first time playing in Australia, and Jassi bhai keeps giving us tips on how to approach our job. It makes things easier for us.”
“He told me one thing: ‘Don’t get too excited. Focus on your discipline. Do what you do in Indian conditions, and repeat that here.’ That’s all he said,” the 28-year-old fast bowler concluded.
We hate spam as much as you do
© Hindeez 2024, All Rights Reserved
