New Delhi: Akash Deep said he owed it to Virat Kohli for his match-saving 31-run knock in India’s third Test in Brisbane against Australia in the recent Border-Gavaskar series.
He revealed to have used the former India’ skipper’s gifted bat to play the crucial knock at Gabba though India went on to lose the five-match series 1-3.
“Yes, that was Virat bhaiya’s bat, the one with MRF logo, everyone knows,” Akash Deep told PTI, adding that it was Kohli who offered him his bat.
“Bhaiyya (Kohli) ne khud mujhse pucha ‘Tumko bat chahiye?’ (Virat bhaiyya asked me, do you need a bat?). Maine bola ‘Haan bhaiyya, aapka bat kaun nahi lena chahega duniya mein?’ Then he presented it to me,” Akash Deep recollected.
Akash Deep said he hesitated to ask for it but was glad that Kohli himself handed it to him.
“I have been there with bhaiyya (Kohli) for some time now (they are teammates in Royal Challengers Bengaluru). But you always have that thing at the back of your mind, whether it is the right thing to ask for a bat from someone of Virat bhaiyya’s stature,” he said.
“Especially during match time, when he is focussed and in his zone, you don’t want to disturb him but bhaiyya, on his own, gave me the bat,” he was a trifle chuffed about that bit.
Determined batting
Akash Deep produced a memorable 47-run last wicket stand with Jasprit Bumrah as India avoided follow-on to force a drawn in the rain-affected match. He had definitive plans on how to approach his batting when he walked into the middle.
“That day, my mindset was that I was ready to get hit and take any number of body blows but won’t get out. I needed to score runs…I had to bat as long as possible. It wasn’t as if (saving) follow-on was on my mind,” he said.
“In my mind, I knew the longer I would bat, our batters would have to bat for reduced amount of time in the second essay. That particular day, I was watching the ball well.”
His efforts were wholeheartedly praised not only by the team management but also by the Indian fans, which made it all the more memorable.
“…I would remember it forever. I didn’t envisage that just because of that batting effort, how many millions felt relieved and happy that day,” the seamer said.
“That evening, I got to know from social media how happy people were. The dressing room was obviously happy.”
Akash Deep claimed five wickets in two Tests he played of the five-match series.
Akash Deep revealed that he used a bat gifted by Virat Kohli to play a crucial 31-run knock as India went on to draw the third Test against Australia at the Gabba. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
