RCB Bold diaries: Akash Deep opens up on his experience of being an RCB intern during IPL 2021

He started out as an intern, bowling at the RCB nets during the 2021 season of the IPL. Cut to 2022, and Akash Deep has shown he has plenty in his kitty to hang around with the big boys at the IPL stage. He has grown from strength to strength over the first 4 games of the season.

The RCB journey for Akash Deep started out by bowling in the nets. What was the experience like? “I have liked RCB since my childhood and ever since I’ve known cricket. I used to like RCB a lot because of Virat Sir(Virat Kohli) and AB Sir (AB de Villiers). I would never miss out on an RCB game even if I missed any other game. I would not watch any other team’s games, but I would watch this team’s right from my childhood. So, even joining up with this team for me was a big deal,” explained Akash Deep.

“During the first 2-3 months after joining up with RCB, I got to learn a lot. When I went back home from here, I realized that the confidence I had gained through this experience helped me a lot in domestic cricket,” he added.

However, things didn't go smoothly for Akash Deep during the 2021 season. He had to leave the RCB nets mid-season. What was the reason behind that? “Whenever I come to this ground(Bandra Kurla Complex), it reminds me of the experience. When I was at practice, I got a call from home that my elder aunt was in quite a serious condition, as were my sister-in-law and my mother. They were at the hospital and my mother was home. I went back to the hotel and was hoping to hear that the situation had gotten better. I kept delaying going back for 4-5 days. But after 5 days I got the news that my elder aunt had passed away, and then my sister-in-law did too. My mother was in quite a critical condition too. I felt that I had to go back because family is very important, and the situation was also very tough,” revealed the Bengal pacer.

“After going home, I took care of my mother’s medicines, getting her injections. The hospital at our place did not have anything- there were no doctors, no medicines. But, going back helped because even the RCB management had spoken to the people back home, to help arrange for oxygen cylinders; I administered the injections myself. Thankfully, my mother is alright now,” he said. 

Things would take quite a positive turn for Akash, who was drafted into the squad for the second half of the 2021 season in place of the injured Washington Sundar. There has been no looking back since then as he was bought back by RCB in the 2022 auction, and has now played every game of the ongoing season thus far.