‘When you save a Test from that position, it gives everyone confidence’: Akash Deep on Gabba Test, partnership with Bumrah

Akash Deep during day five of the third cricket Test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, on December 18, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

A massive 9417 km split Bihar’s Dehri from Melbourne. It is an aerial distance meant to be traversed over multiple flights. Not difficult in this modern age but to get here, Akash Deep had to work his way up over the years.

From Bihar, he shifted to Bengal, dealt with personal tragedies and kept running in hard. His is a story of sweat and a big heart. The kind he revealed at Brisbane’s Gabba, where along with Jasprit Bumrah, he helped India avoid the follow-on.

If Rohit Sharma’s men are placed at 1-1 in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, a large credit is due to the way Akash performed at the Gabba. The numbers, though, may never tell the entire tale. Just like Javagal Srinath in the 1991-92 tour of Australia, Akash became this Indian speedster who bowled well but without luck. Hopefully that bit will change.

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday afternoon, Akash met reporters and answered all their queries. Looking back at his life, he said: “When I began playing cricket, I never thought I would be giving an interview to you all one day in Australia. The place where I come from and the place I am in right now, because of that (growth) children are playing cricket (back home) and parents have begun to support their kids. That makes me feel good and proud.”

Talk veered towards his 47-run last-wicket partnership with Bumrah at the Gabba, and he responded: “Honestly, when we come down to bat, when some 20 to 25 runs were required, I was thinking of contributing and that day, I wasn’t thinking of avoiding a follow-on, I just wanted to stay unbeaten and by god’s grace we avoided the follow-on. When you save a Test from that position, it gives everyone confidence. Everybody was enjoying that moment (in the dressing room).”

Having played his first five Tests in India and just a lone one Down Under in the current tour, Akash was aware of the challenges lurking on these surfaces: “Before this I have played in India where there’s not much help for us (pacers). We can keep our lengths short here as there is some help, especially with the new ball. We also feel like we can bowl a lot fuller thinking we can beat the batters. Then there is a chance of leaking runs too. As a fast bowler, irrespective of conditions, maintaining discipline is very important.”

Bumrah’s guidance has helped Akash and the seamer expressed his gratitude: “This is my first time in Australia and Jassibhai told me these little things that have helped a lot. You can trust him because of the way he has bowled here or anywhere else. He keeps telling you small things like not getting too excited by the bounce and to bowl like how you have been bowling on Indian pitches.” And as for his philosophy, Akash stressed: “Whenever I get my chance I have to be ready.”