Akash Deep doesn’t see himself as a genuine all-rounder with the bat but acknowledged he wants to improve it to become a viable option in limited-overs cricket.
Akash Deep Focuses on Bowling Despite Valuable Batting Contributions
Despite his crucial 66 as a night-watchman in the Oval Test during India’s England tour, Akash Deep emphasizes that bowling remains his primary discipline. Speaking at a West Bengal cricket event, he clarified that while he aims to improve his batting and be a versatile option across formats, he wants to be remembered foremost as a bowler. “If the team needs my batting, I will bat. My dream is to bring my best version and improve myself so that I can play across formats. But I’m not a selector,” he stated.
‘I would always like to win the match with my bowling…’
Akash Deep, India’s rising fast bowler, recently grabbed headlines for his valuable 66-run contribution in the fifth Test at The Oval alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Coming in as a night-watchman, his innings helped India extend their third innings total and showcased his ability to contribute with the bat when needed. However, Akash was quick to stress that batting remains a secondary skill, with bowling being his primary focus.
Reflecting on the Oval innings, he said, “The 66 I scored in the second innings at The Oval was also important, but as a bowler, I would always like to win the match with my bowling.” His standout performance came earlier in the series at Edgbaston, where he took a five-wicket haul, playing a decisive role in India’s victory.
Akash also addressed concerns over his fitness, revealing that he had only suffered an impact injury that temporarily limited his bowling. “There was no injury, just an impact. I will start bowling tomorrow. I’m feeling good. I have been playing constantly for six months, so my body needed a bit of rest,” he said.
Looking ahead, Akash aims to continue improving his batting as a bonus while ensuring his primary impact remains with the ball, aspiring to be a consistent match-winner for India across formats.
