India’s star pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, has expressed his confidence in the potential of his compatriot Akash Deep after their impressive victory in the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. Despite losing significant playing time due to rain and a wet outfield, India’s players displayed unwavering determination and secured a 7-wicket win on a sunny day in Kanpur.
Throughout the series, India’s experienced bowlers have consistently delivered when needed. However, it was the young Akash Deep who stole the spotlight in Kanpur, showcasing his exceptional swing bowling with the SG ball. Bumrah, who witnessed Akash’s impressive performance firsthand, revealed that they have had numerous “interesting conversations” where Akash sought advice before captivating spectators with his mesmerizing spells.
“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,” Bumrah said after India’s victory.
In the two Tests, Akash, who consistently hit the deck, swung the ball effortlessly and ended the series with five wickets. The Green Park surface underwent significant changes throughout the five days of play, with the weather constantly dictating the flow of the game. Once the rain subsided and the sun shone brightly over Kanpur, it became a challenging surface for the pacers to extract benefits from.
However, for Bumrah, when the pitch turned against his natural style of play, it was a challenge that he relished taking on. “I like that challenge when you go against your nature and conditions are not favorable. The wicket is not favorable. 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 added.
“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,” he noted.
In the end, as India pushed their limits and redefined the way a Test is supposed to be played, Bumrah stood at the top as the joint-leading wicket-taker in the series with 11 wickets. As he continues to make the ball obey his will, Bumrah has earned the title of magician for himself. However, the experienced pacer is not focused on such adjectives. He is just delighted with the way India performed to subtly complete the series sweep over Bangladesh.
“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,” Bumrah said.
Following the conclusion of the series, India will engage in a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh and then host New Zealand for three Tests this month.
