September 8, 2024

Akash Deep: Contentment Hinders Improvement for Cricketers

A nine-wicket haul usually elevates a bowler’s spirits, but for India pacer Akash Deep, it’s a reminder of the areas needing improvement before a busy season ahead.

Akash delivered an impressive performance for India A against India B in the recent Duleep Trophy first-round match, ending with figures 4 for 60 and 5 for 56.

“If you get satisfied as a cricketer, you will never learn anything. As long as I have the hunger for learning, I can never be satisfied,” Akash told reporters after the match on Sunday.

“Wickets and results are two different things; sometimes you will get the result, sometimes not. But, the most important thing is the process…like while bowling, which are the areas that can still be improved upon,” he added.

Akash, who debuted in Test cricket against England in Ranchi earlier this year, returned to the red-ball format after a significant break. However, the Bengal player mentioned that he had been preparing in his way for the season.

“After my India debut in Ranchi and the IPL, I did not play any competitive match. It’s tough to play a game as a pacer after such a long gap, but I have been practicing since last month.”

“We were playing the practice matches as actual games. So, we had that mindset to get our muscles used to that sort of bowling, and it helped me a lot,” he noted.

With India set to play 10 Tests this season, Akash’s performance in the Duleep Trophy has positioned him as a top contender to support Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

However, Akash prefers to focus on the present rather than looking too far ahead.

“Every contest that I play, I consider it as my last. I don’t think too far enough. All I have is the present with me.”

Akash’s Mastery of Both Swing Deliveries and His Learning Journey

The 27-year-old demonstrated exceptional control over incoming and outgoing deliveries and elaborated on it.

“When I started my career, I was an in-swing bowler. But I hurt my shoulder around two to three years ago, and I could not bowl in swings anymore.”

“It is tough to live with one variation as a bowler, and I began looking for options. I switched to out-swingers. And once my shoulder was back to normal, I gained total control on both variations,” he elaborated.

The delivery that shifted from the middle-stump line to hit Nitish Reddy’s off-stump in India A’s first innings highlighted his expertise with the away-moving ball.

Akash also recalled how senior India teammate and fellow Bengal pacer Mohammed Shami assisted him with the finer details of his craft.

“I do take input from him as our actions are pretty much similar. I asked him ‘how to move the ball out by bowling from around the wicket to a left-hander,’ to which he asked me not to try for it as it would happen naturally.”

“It did happen to me naturally, which then became a wicket-taking delivery. It also creates confusion in the batter’s mind, as he is used to playing the ball generally outside,” he explained.

Despite Akash’s outstanding performance, India A lost to India B by 76 runs. He acknowledged that the batters made some poor shot choices and the bowlers lacked optimal preparation.

“We did not have the right planning in place. We should have kept things tighter. Our plan was to play until tea, as things would have become tough in the final session.

“But we played some wrong shots in a hurry, leading to a pressure situation for us,” he said.

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