Akash Deep reveals what Virat Kohli told him while handing him his RCB cap

The 2022 season was a breakthrough one for RCB fast bowler Akash Deep. Having gone through a seesaw of fortunes during the first half of the season in 2021, Akash graduated from being an intern to grabbing a spot in the squad as a replacement for Washington Sundar in the second half of the 2021 season. Cut to 2022, and he would be brought back by RCB, and within a couple of months, he was making his debut in the Red and Gold. 

If that journey felt dream-like, the reality was as good for Akash Deep. Speaking to Indian Express, Akash Deep spoke about the feeling of sharing the dressing room with a legend of Indian cricket like Virat Kohli. “As a kid, when we used to watch the likes of Kohli and Dhoni on TV, I used to think whether I would ever get a chance to meet them in my life. In my mind, they were like superheroes. And from the place I come from, in my wildest imagination, I never thought that someday, I would end up sharing the dressing room with Kohli,” he gleamed.

The journey of reaching the top started with a word from his Bengal teammate Manoj Tiwary. While he didn’t get to play a game during the second half of IPL 2021, Akash made quite an impression around the squad, which was something that Tiwary had encouraged him to do as a step towards the big leagues. “Manoj (Tiwary) bhaiyya said, ‘Virat is India’s captain, and if you manage to impress him, you will get to play in the IPL next season and might play for India as well because you have all the ingredients to become a good fast bowler.’ That was my goal, and I managed to do well in the practice matches and was later picked in the auction,” revealed the Bengal and RCB fast bowler.

If the entire journey from rags to riches took the cake, receiving his RCB cap from Virat Kohli himself was the icing. “Sab sapna hai (Everything is a dream). I was shocked that he knows where I am from, my journey, struggle and everything. While giving me the cap, he said, ‘You deserve to be here. Just keep doing what you have done in the past. Just enjoy yourself, stick to your process.’ It was a very emotional moment,” said Akash.

Akash Deep claimed 5 crucial scalps from 5 games for RCB in IPL 2022, including a match-winning spell against the Mumbai Indians in Pune.