Akash Deep downplays seriousness about blows copped by him and Rohit Sharma at the MCG

There was a bit of scare running wild in the Indian nets ahead of the upcoming Boxing Day Test. Rohit Sharma and Akash Deep were struck awkwardly during their net sessions, the Indian skipper being struck on his knee while Akash Deep got knocked on his arm.

However, snubbing any chances for the issue to become bigger, Akash Deep opened up on the injuries, underlining the fact that it was just a normal phase of the game and such injuries are very common. Addressing the media, Akash Deep cleared the air around the blows that he and Rohit copped and clarified the fact that they were absolutely fine.

Akash Deep said, “Such blows are common when you play cricket. I think this (practice) wicket was for white ball which is why the ball kept low at times. But these blows are common in training. There are no major concerns because of that."

Akash Deep looked good with the bat in Brisbane, helping India bail themselves out after a phenomenal partnership with Jasprit Bumrah in the end. Shedding some light about that knock, Akash Deep added, “At the time we come in to bat, scoring those 20-30 runs are very important. My mindset is to contribute in whatever way I can and that day my mindset, I didn't think about saving the follow-on, I just didn't want to get out. And when you do well from that situation it gives confidence and that's the confidence that the team was able to see in me and I was really happy."

He concluded with a word about the brilliant spell that left Steve Smith reeling, stating, “At the time, I felt like, the skill with which I bowled, a lot of the times he was getting beaten on the inside edge and the outside edge and I felt that sometimes 'what is this luck that I have, I can't get him out'. But then I realised that the wicket is not in our hands. What we have in our hands is just bowling well. Bowling in the right areas."