Gavaskar praises Akash Deep, says Team India doing great even without big names

Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar complimented Team India for achieving great results in Test cricket even without big players. Gavaskar highlighted that the team under Rohit Sharma was without superstars like batting maestro Virat Kohli and fast bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah during the fourth Test against England in Ranchi, yet came out on top easily to pocket the five-match series with one game yet to be played.

Already missing vice captain KL Rahul and Kohli, India thrashed England in Ranchi. Team India saw debutant pacer Akash Deep made an immediate impression in his maiden game when he took three quick wickets in England’s first innings.

Gavaskar mentioned pacer Akash Deep in particular in his column for the Mid Day. It’s interesting to note that Gavaskar also discussed India’s audacious choice to bench Bumrah in the Test series finale against England. “Bumrah was rested for Ranchi, presumably on the trainer’s recommendation, despite bowling just 15 overs in the first innings and then eight overs in the second innings of the third Test at Rajkot,” Gavaskar said.

He wrote in his column, “Don’t forget there was a nine-day break between the second Test and third Test match and then bowling 23 overs in the entire game is not tiring at all, so why was Bumrah rested? After the fourth Test there was going to be another eight-days break before the final Test match; enough time for supremely fit athletes to recover and be ready to play for the country.”

Rohit Sharma praised Akash Deep for his outstanding debut against England in Ranchi. In the first 19 overs of the first innings, Akash Deep, making his debut in Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s den, claimed three wickets. In the second innings of the series decider, skipper Rohit did not employ the pacer as the Indian spinners ran through the English batting lineup.