Sanchita Chatterjee Kolkata: There are multiple stories behind the rise of Akash Deep. The Akash that is seen in Edgbaston is not a rare talent. Even with the touch of Aladdin's magic lamp, his dream did not come true. Behind the rise of Akash is hard work, dedication and an unyielding fight.
Akash's journey began with tennis ball cricket. He went to play tennis ball competitions in a small village in Sasaram, Bihar. After leading his team to the championship, he received an offer to move abroad.
You don't hear stories of traveling abroad playing tennis ball cricket. But Akash was taken to Dubai. Not only as a bowler, but also as an aggressive batsman. He also won the best batsman award in several tennis competitions. The first stamp on Akash's passport was from the United Arab Emirates. The then coach of the Bengal U-23 team, Saurashis Lahiri, was surprised to see this.
When Akash, who was terrorised by England at Edgbaston, got a chance to play for Bengal's Under-23 team, he was asked to submit some documents for registration. Akash handed over his passport. Sourashis was surprised to see the stamp of the United Arab Emirates on it. He said, "I asked him what he had gone to Dubai for. He said, 'Sir, you are taking me to Dubai to play tennis ball cricket.'"
"I had to go. I used to play tennis cricket in Bihar. That's where the desire to play red-ball cricket came from." His story was surprising."
It didn't end there, Akash had to give a trial to the Bengal U-23 team with a 'stress fracture' in his back. Sourashis said, "He gave the trial with unbearable pain in his back. He bowled with a short run-up. That knocked out the stumps of several batsmen." He added, "The Bengal selectors also said that there was no point in including him in the team. Still, I trusted him. His reward? He made Bengal the champion in the U-23 competition."
Soutam Mitra gave Akash his first chance in Kolkata league cricket. He played for United Club. From then on, he used to bowl with great force. How was he so strong? Former Bengal coach Arun Lal said, "There is a large playing field in front of his house. There is also a hill. Every day, he used to run up and down the hill to improve his fitness. From there, his body muscles became strong."
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The fact that he got out has caught the attention of experts. He has studied the way in which bowling from the corner of the crease can be done. Sourashis said, "He used to bowl at a stump for three hours every day in the off-season. Sometimes he would bowl close to the stumps. Sometimes he would bowl from the corner of the popping crease. That's how he developed himself." Along with this, Akash also took the advice of Lucknow Super Giants' mentor Zaheer Khan.
Coach Laxmiratan Shukla is also proud of the Bengal pacer's success. He said, "If Sourashis had not come into his life, it would have been much too late for Akash to improve."