Akash Deep on Rohit Sharma Captaincy: Amid criticism of Rohit Sharma’s captaincy following the 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, India’s right-arm fast bowler Akash Deep praised the opener’s leadership style, stating that he has never seen a captain like him. Rohit faced continuous criticism for his lacklustre captaincy and disappointing batting performance during the Australia tour.
Akash Deep, the 28-year-old Indian fast bowler, has been impressive in recent Test matches. Despite playing only seven Test matches, Akash has claimed 15 wickets. However, luck has not always been on his side, with dropped catches and some batsmen’s good fortune preventing his wicket tally from being higher. Akash remains optimistic and credits his progress to the faith shown by Team India captain Rohit Sharma.
Rohit Sharma’s Leadership Praised by Akash Deep
After missing the series opener in Perth due to the birth of his second child, Rohit Sharma failed to score more than 10 runs in five innings before being rested for the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He ended the series with just 31 runs, facing significant public scrutiny for his poor performance.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Akash Deep lauded Rohit’s captaincy, saying, “I consider myself very lucky to have had the chance to start under Rohit. The way he leads and keeps things simple, I have never seen a captain like him. Gambhir sir also motivates and gives freedom, which greatly helps players mentally.”
Akash Deep said – “Rohit Sharma bhai is the Greatest Captain. I’m very lucky to play under Rohit Sharma Bhai’s Captaincy. He keeps things very simple and that things help players a lot”. (Abhishek Tripathi/Dainik Jagran). pic.twitter.com/a0f8hDEz4h
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) January 16, 2025
Akash Deep Reflects on His Maiden Australia Tour
Akash, who made a brilliant Test debut against England last year, played two Tests against Australia. He took three wickets in the Gabba Test and two wickets in the Melbourne Test. Reflecting on his maiden Australia tour, the 28-year-old pacer shared, “I learned a lot, as before that, I played Test cricket in India where bowling wasn’t as critical.”
Learning and Growing as a Fast Bowler in Australia
He added, “In Australia, as a fast bowler, I learned a lot that will help me both mentally and physically. Even when our bodies were tired, our mindset was to push ourselves because the team needed long spells from us.”
Akash Deep talking about the importance of Captain Rohit Sharma 🇮🇳
– Ro, The leader. [PTI] pic.twitter.com/H2Jty3GWOk
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 16, 2025
Focusing on Improvement for the Future
Despite his valuable contributions, Akash admitted that he wasn’t satisfied with his performance and emphasized the importance of continuous improvement. “If I get complacent, my chances for improvement will reduce. There are still areas where I can improve, and I’m working hard to do so,” he said.
Plans for Injury Recovery and Practice
Akash missed the final Test against Australia due to a back issue but confirmed in the interview that there was no major injury. He explained, “I’m resting now, and everything is fine. I’ve been playing Test cricket for a while, so my body needed rest. After a two-week rest, I’ll start my practice again.
