Jasprit Bumrah Praises Akash Deep After India’s Win Against Bangladesh in Kanpur

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 1: India’s star pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, is hopeful that his teammate Akash Deep will continue to improve after their special win in the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur on Tuesday.

Despite losing more than two days of play due to rain and a wet outfield, India players worked hard and secured a 7-wicket win on a sunny day in Kanpur. Throughout the series, India’s main bowlers performed well, but it was the young Akash Deep who stood out in Kanpur, making headlines with his impressive bowling.

Bumrah shared that Akash often seeks his advice before bowling and praised his energy and dedication on the field. Bumrah said, “He (Akash Deep) comes up to me quite a lot before a spell and asks me ‘what is happening and what should I do’. We have had a lot of interesting conversations, and the energy he brings on the ball, he gives his best on the field, and when he’s bowling, he has got a lot of heart, and that is a good sign for us going forward. Hopefully, he goes from strength to strength.”

In the two Tests, Akash took five wickets, consistently hitting the deck and swinging the ball effortlessly. The Green Park surface changed throughout the five days of play, with the weather affecting the game. Once the rain stopped and the sun came out, it became challenging for the pacers to benefit from the surface.

Bumrah enjoyed the challenge of playing in difficult conditions and finding solutions with his teammates. He said, “I like that challenge when you go against your nature and conditions are not favourable. The wicket is not favourable. How do you get answers? All of these battles I really like. We have played a lot of cricket in India. You understand the nature of the wicket, and the SG ball sometimes reverses as well, but sometimes, because of the humidity, you are not able to keep the ball dry, so you find solutions and discuss it with other players as well.”

Bumrah also highlighted the importance of fitness and experience in such conditions. He noted, “It was a test for our fitness as well, as you see how hot the weather is, bowling every day and trying to create an impact, a really special win. You use your experience, but it is easier said than done because you have played a lot of cricket and played on different surfaces. You find solutions. This wicket was completely different to what we got in Chennai, so we quickly communicated with the others and tried to find the best option.”

In the end, India redefined the way a Test is supposed to be played, with Bumrah finishing as the joint-leading wicket-taker in the series with 11 wickets. Despite being called a magician, Bumrah is more focused on the team’s performance. He said, “It feels really good. I don’t think about all those adjectives (being called a magician). It is really good to get this win; we had lost a couple of days.”

Following the series, India will play a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh and then host New Zealand for three Tests this month.