When Akash Deep was announced replacement for the rested Jasprit Bumrah against England for the second Edgbaston Test, experts and fans were worried about how India would take 20 wickets without their premier pacer. However, Akash was supremely confident about his skills and form. He walked the talk and picked up four wickets to give India a massive 180-run lead on the end of Day three.
While Mohammed Siraj walked with all the accolades owing to his six-wicket haul, it was Akash who broke the crucial 303-run stand between Harry Brook and Jamie Smith to bring India back into the contest. At the end of Day three's play, Akash lavished huge praise on coach Gautam Gambhir and stated that it was the Southpaw's backing and belief in him that translated into such a terrific performance.
“He (Gautam Gambhir) kept sharing his experience with me. What a player needs from a coach in terms of confidence, he has given me. And his confidence in me only has reflected in this match. When you know that your coach is backing you, then you get the confidence, and it gets reflected in the match. He was telling me I don’t even know what skills I have. So that’s motivating when the coach says that. He along with Morne Morkel kept reminding me of my strengths,” Akash Deep told reporters after the end of the third day’s play.
Discipline key thing in bowling in English conditions: Akash Deep
The right-arm pacer further stated that in England conditions, it is imperative to be disciplined and bowl tight lines and lengths. Akash always prides himself on bowling stump-to-stump line, and it was on display in abundance during Day three's play.
“The kind of wickets and the kind of batting England has, it poses a challenge. As a bowler, you have things like disciplined bowling, bowling in your areas, and bowling according to your plan in your hands on such kinds of pitches. So I believe when you keep things simple and go into the match with your plan and try to execute your plans, it’s not difficult. Whether conditions are easy or difficult, and whatever the batting is, it becomes easier for us. The result will come in favor one day, and it will not come in favor the other day, but sticking to this makes things easier for you,” he said.
At the end of the day's play, India are placed 64/1, with 244 runs lead. The visitors would look to pile on more agony on England and look to close the game.
