'Impress Virat Kohli First' - When Akash Deep Revealed Initial Advice After IPL Call-Up
Akash Deep plays for RCB (X.com)
Young Bengal pacer Akash Deep received his maiden IPL call-up for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2021 as an injury replacement for Washington Sundar. Ahead of the campaign, Akash Deep disclosed how his teammate Manoj Tiwary advised him to remain in Virat Kohli's good books to rise up the ranks within RCB.
Akash Deep's years of hard work in domestic cricket bore fruits when the pacer earned his maiden IPL call-up back in 2021. RCB was jolted by Washington Sundar's injury and needed an immediate replacement. Accordingly, they turned to Deep.
Meanwhile, an ecstatic pacer celebrated the big break with his Bengal teammate Manoj Tiwary. The former cricketer first congratulated Deep and also shared a wise piece of advice.
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Tiwary apparently told Akash Deep to impress Virat Kohli in his maiden season. Kohli holds a larger influence over decision-making not just within RCB but also the Indian cricket team. Thus, Manoj urged Deep to follow his advice to rise up the ranks as he believed Deep had the quality required to become a quality fast bowler for the Indian senior team.
“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,” Akash Deep told Indian Express.
Meanwhile, Akash Deep did follow his teammate's advice and impressed Virat Kohli in his maiden stint with RCB despite not having played even a single game in the Reds.
In the 2022 auction, RCB bought back Deep at the nominal base price of INR 20 lakhs, and the pacer was handed over the debut cap from none other than the skipper himself, Virat Kohli.
The pacer additionally revealed that he was taken aback to know that Kohli already knew about his journey and humble beginnings while passing on the debut cap.
“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," he concluded.
Akash Deep further revealed how his life came full circle. As a kid, he used to take inspiration from the likes of Kohli and MS Dhoni, and years later, to have had the opportunity and privilege to share the dressing room with the legends is nothing short of a surreal feeling.
 "Akshita Patel")
