India vs Bangladesh 2024: Who is Akash Deep, RCB teammate of Virat Kohli and cricketer who has rocked Bangladesh in 1st Test

Bangladesh didn’t know what hit them in the 9th over of their innings in the 1st Test vs India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. Bengal and Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Akash Deep rocked the Bangladesh top order with two wickets in successive balls – dismissing opener Zakir Hasan and Mominul Haque off successive deliveries just before lunch.

Akash Deep’s double blow reduced Bangladesh to 26 for 3 in 9 overs in reply to India’s first innings score of 376. The pacer originally hails from Bihar and was born and brought up in Baddi village of Rohtas district. He left his hometown at the age of 13 and headed to Bengal to try and pursue a career in cricket.

The youngster had dedicated his impressive debut against England earlier this year to his father and brother whom he had lost within a gap of one year. “I thought I have to do something after I lost my dad and brother in one year, then I stepped out to play cricket. I had nothing to lose and everything to win. I dedicate this to my father because it was his dream that his son does something in life. I couldn’t do anything in his life (when he was alive), so this performance is for my father,” Akash Deep had said after his debut against England in Ranchi.

The 27-year-old returned to Kolkata and joined United Club in CAB’s second division league where he met Mohammad Shami, who helped him work on his fitness and helped the bowler increase his pace. In just his second first-class game, Akash bagged six wickets against Gujarat, on his way to 35 wickets in the season at an average of 18.02 in Bengal’s run to the Ranji Trophy final.

Akash Deep has been sensational in domestic cricket, claiming 116 wickets in just 32 matches with a brilliant average of 22.86. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bought the Bengal pacer for Rs 20 lakh back in IPL 2022 auction. The pacer made his debut under the captaincy of Virat Kohli in RCB.

 

Virat Kohli gifted his bat to Akash Deep pic.twitter.com/UK8YwVUQan

— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) September 16, 2024

Ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, former RCB skipper Virat Kohli gifted Akash Deep his bat after seeing promise in the batting of the pacer. In his post, Akash Deep expressed his gratitude with a heartfelt caption: “Thanq bhaiya (Thank you big brother)”.