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SA vs IND: How Yuzvendra Chahal's advice helped Kuldeep Yadav on bowling against South Africa

Kuldeep Yadav opened up about a conversation with Yuzvendra Chahal before the third T20I of the SA vs IND three-match series

Dec 15, 2023, 10:47 PM3 min read

SA vs IND: Yuzvendra Chahal's advice for Kuldeep Yadav   Image - BCCI

Kuldeep Yadav opened up about his conversation with teammate Yuzvendra Chahal before the SA vs IND third and final T20I of the three-match series. Kuldeep thanked Chahal for his consistent support, highlighting their friendship throughout the years. Kuldeep recorded his best figures for Team India in the format in the final t20i against South Africa. He took five wickets for 17 runs in 2.5 overs to help India win the final game and tie the series 1-1.

BCCI posted a video on X where Suryakumar Yadav was seen having a conversation with Kuldeep in which he asked the left-arm spinner if Chahal's advice had helped him to record the figure.

"Chahal bhai had a long flight so we didn't speak much. Just met him last evening and he told me not to change too much about bowling. Even when things weren't great 2-3 years ago, he was always there for me. Hopefully, we will try to do well if we play together in ODIs," Kuldeep said.

Kuldeep dismantled South Africa's middle order and registered his best figure in the format. India batted first and scored 201 runs and then bowled out South Africa for just 95 runs. India won the match and level the series 1-1. In the video, Kuldeep also opened up about how he bagged the fifer.

"Wasn't thinking much. The idea was to bowl to a particular length and then I observed that the pitch is slow and the quicker ones were gripping a bit. So I was just mixing my flighted deliveries with quicker ones. I did get a few lucky wickets as the ball was keeping low. Once I got three wickets, I thought let's go for picking five wickets," Kuldeep said.

Suryakumar Yadav came into bat when India were 29/2 and constructed a 112-run partnership with Jaiswal. Yashasvi Jaiswal got out on 60 but the skipper went on to score his 4th T20I century. Kuldeep asked the captain about how he felt after scoring the record-equalling 4th century in the T20I format.

Surya said, "Whenever I walk out to bat, I don't think about the amount of runs I have to score. I just want to go out there and enjoy my batting. I like to sprint out to the middle and get ready to face the first ball. It was good to get the Player of the Match and Player of the Series award by coming out of my comfort zone overseas. All the success reached God, God is great,"

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Best test bowling figure in an inning by any Indian bowler at Lord's

Before the start of the third test, let's have a look at the Best test bowling figure in an inning by any Indian bowler at Lord's.

Jul 8, 2025, 12:37 PM5 min read

Best test bowling figure in an inning by any Indian bowler at Lord's

India's thumping 336-run victory over England at Edgbaston has breathed fresh life into the five-Test series, now locked at 1-1. The third Test of the ongoing five-match series between India and England is scheduled to take place at Lord’s from July 10 to 14.

Before the start of the third test, let's have a look at the Best test bowling figure in an inning by any Indian bowler at Lord's.

Also Read: Most Test Wickets Taken by Indian Bowlers at Lord's

Best test bowling figure in an inning by any Indian bowler at Lord's

1. Ishant Sharma | 7/74

Best test bowling figure in an inning by any Indian bowler at Lord's

Ishant Sharma put in one of the best exhibitions of short-ball bowling by an India fast bowler in the fourth innings of the Lord's Test in 2014. The lanky right-armer ran through England with figures of 7 for 74 to help the visitors record a famous win.

Ishant Sharma was India's hero at Lord's with a seven-wicket haul in the second innings. He cleaned up Ian Bell before inducing an outside edge from Alastair Cook’s blade with a beautiful outswinger. Sharma's brilliant spell turned the tables and India picked up a famous victory by 95 runs.

2. Amar Singh | 6/35

Best test bowling figure in an inning by any Indian bowler at Lord's

In the summer of 1936, the late Amar Singh registered his name on the iconic Lord’s Honours Board with a brilliant spell of 6 for 35, the second-best bowling figures by an India bowler in Tests on English soil.

After India were bundled out for 147 in their first innings, Amar Singh exploited the conditions as he ran through the English batting line-up.

The home team was bowled out for just 134, giving India an upper hand. His victims included Arthur Mitchell, Harold Gimblett, Maurice Turnbull, Maurice Leyland, Bob Wyatt, and skipper Gubby Allen. Though India couldn’t capitalize on this momentum and eventually lost the match, Singh’s performance is still one of the best on English soil.

3. Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 6/82

Best test bowling figure in an inning by any Indian bowler at Lord's

The 2014 Lord's Test remains one of India's most special wins in SENA countries, and they have much to thank veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the triumph. After the first of the five Tests ended in a draw, India and England moved to the home of cricket for the all-important second Test.

On a green wicket, Team India huffed and puffed their way to a respectable 295 in their first innings. With the game hanging on a knife-edge, Bhuvi rattled the English top order by picking up the first three wickets in no time and reducing them to 70/3 in the 32nd over.

He returned to pick up his final three wickets later in the innings, including England's top-scorer, Gary Ballance, for 110, as India restricted England's first-innings lead to just 24. Bhuvneshwar finished with outstanding figures of 6/82 in 31 overs.

4. Bishan Bedi | 6/226

Best test bowling figure in an inning by any Indian bowler at Lord's

Legendary spinner Bishan Singh Bedi took 6/226 at the Lord's in 1974, getting his name etched on the Lord’s honors board.

On a tough pitch for bowlers, England opened the batting and quickly made a mark on the match with Dennis Amiss' century helping to post a score of 337-2 before Bedi even claimed his first wicket. His dismissal of John Edrich (96) and then Keith Fletcher gave India hope of trying to restrict England below 400. However, those hopes were quickly dashed when Mike Denness and Tony Greig both made centuries with England eventually talling a mammoth score of 629 all out.

Bedi was the only bowler of note to cause England any sort of trouble. In addition to his wickets of Edrich and Fletcher, Bedi also removed Denness, Alan Knott, Geoff Arnold and Derek Underwood to earn a spot on the Honours Boards. Bedi wouldn't have the opportunity to bowl again in the match, with England comfortably winning the Test by an innings and 285 runs.

5. RP Singh | 5/59

Best test bowling figure in an inning by any Indian bowler at Lord's

After picking up two wickets in the first innings, former left-arm pacer RP Singh produced an incredible five-wicket haul to prevent England from running away with the game in the second.

An incredible three-wicket spell from him saw England, who led by 97 after the first innings, slip from 102/2 to 132/5 in no time. Singh removed skipper Michael Vaughan, followed by Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood in a six-over stretch to bring India back into the contest.

However, Kevin Pietersen's scintillating 134 took the hosts to safety before Singh returned to remove him and Monty Panesar to complete his five-wicket haul. Nevertheless, his 5/59 in the second innings slowed England's innings enough for India to save the game on the final day.

Also Read: Most wickets vs England in England for India in tests

1 Ishant Sharma 2011-2021 4 17 7/74 29.70 3.21 1 0
2 Amar Singh 1932-1936 2 10 6/35 23.00 2.02 1 0
3 Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2014-2014 1 6 6/82 17.16 2.19 1 0
4 Bishan Singh Bedi 1967-1979 4 17 6/226 28.94 2.41 1 0
5 RP Singh 2007-2007 1 7 5/59 16.71 3.49 1 0
6 Chetan Sharma 1986-1986 1 6 5/64 18.66 2.28 1 0
7 Venkatesh Prasad 1996-1996 1 7 5/76 18.57 2.26 1 0
8 Ramakant Desai 1959-1959 1 6 5/89 19.66 3.05 1 0
9 Mohammad Nissar 1932-1936 2 10 5/93 19.70 2.94 1 0
10 Praveen Kumar 2011-2011 1 6 5/106 29.33 2.90 1 0

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Most Test Wickets Taken by Indian Bowlers at Lord's

As the Men in Blue moves to the hallowed turf of Lord’s for the third Test starting July 10, let's take a look at the most test wickets taken by Indian bowlers at Lord's.

Jul 8, 2025, 11:25 AM4 min read

Most Test Wickets Taken by Indian Bowlers at Lord's

India beat hosts England by 336 runs in the second Test to level the five-match Test series 1-1. When news emerged that Jasprit Bumrah will not be playing the second Test at Edgbaston, team India were written off completely, with pretty much everyone expecting England to maul them and go 2-0 up. However, in a twist that no one saw coming, it was India who ended up obliterating the hosts, hammering them on the back of an extraordinary performance.

As the Men in Blue moves to the hallowed turf of Lord’s for the third Test starting July 10, let's take a look at the most test wickets taken by Indian bowlers at Lord's.

Also Read: Indian players to record two hundreds in a Test match

Most Test Wickets Taken by Indian Bowlers at Lord's

1. Bishan Singh Bedi | 17 Wickets

Most Test Wickets Taken by Indian Bowlers at Lord's

Former left-arm orthodox, Bishan Singh Bedi sits at the top of the list of most test wickets taken by Indian bowlers at Lord's with 17 wickets in only 4 Tests at Lord’s. Bishan Singh Bedi represented cricket from 1966 to 1979 and was part of India’s popular spin-quartet.

Bishan Singh played 67 Tests for the Indian team and took 266 wickets at an average of 28.71. He played his last Test against England in 1979. He finished with three wickets in that match.

2. Kapil Dev | 17 Wickets

Most Test Wickets Taken by Indian Bowlers at Lord's

The veteran cricketer, Kapil Dev doesn’t need any introduction. The World Cup-winning Indian skipper is counted amongst the greatest all-rounders in the history of the game. He was the country’s lead fast bowler during the late 90s.

Kapil Dev was successful not only in the sub-continent but also in SENA countries. He has an exceptional record at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

In just 4 Tests, Kapil Dev managed to claim 17 wickets and thus is the joint highest Indian wicket-taker at Lord’s. Overall, Kapil has 434 wickets in 131 Tests to his name, including 23 five-wicket hauls.

3. Ishant Sharma | 17 Wickets

Most Test Wickets Taken by Indian Bowlers at Lord's

At number three is Ishant Sharma, who is also the joint highest Indian wicket-taker at Lord’s. The 36-year old seamer has a pretty good record at Lord’s. He has 17 wickets to his name at Lord's. He had a memorable 7/74 at Lord's in 2014 which helped India to win a Test match at Lords' cricket ground for the first time since 1986.

Ishant Sharma played 105 Tests for the Indian team and took 311 wickets at an average of 32.40, including 11 five-wicket hauls.

4. Anil Kumble | 12 Wickets

Most Test Wickets Taken by Indian Bowlers at Lord's

India’s greatest spinner in the history of the game, Anil Kumble has the fourth most number of Test wickets by any Indian bowler at Lord’s. Given the fact that the spinners don’t usually get a lot of assistance from the English surfaces and still getting the fourth-most number of wickets is itself a big feat.

Anil Kumble has 12 wickets at Lord’s Cricket Ground. In his Test Cricket career, he has picked 619 wickets in 132 Tests, including 8 ten-wicket hauls. He is currently the highest wicket-taker for the national team in Test cricket.

5. Zaheer Khan | 11 Wickets

Most Test Wickets Taken by Indian Bowlers at Lord's

Hailed as arguably the best left-arm seamers that the nation has ever produced, Zaheer Khan has a great record to his name at Lord’s cricket ground. On swinging conditions in England, the Indian seamer would make batsmen’s life tougher by swinging the ball both ways. Besides, he was a master at reverse swing.

During his career, he played 13 Tests against England and picked 43 wickets at an average of 29.02. Of those 43, 11 wickets came at Lord’s cricket ground. Overall Zaheer Khan played 92 Tests in his international circuit and claimed 311 wickets at an average of 32.95.

Also Read: Most wickets vs England in England for India in tests

1 Bishan Bedi 1967-1979 4 17 6/226 28.94 2.41 1 0
2 Kapil Dev 1979-1990 4 17 5/125 32.52 2.94 1 0
3 Ishant Sharma 2011-2021 4 17 7/74 29.70 3.21 1 0
4 Anil Kumble 1996-2007 3 12 3/84 41.00 2.65 0 0
5 Zaheer Khan 2002-2011 3 11 4/79 26.36 2.71 0 0
6 Amar Singh 1932-1936 2 10 6/35 23.00 2.02 1 0
7 Bhagwath Chandrasekhar 1967-1974 3 10 5/127 33.00 2.45 1 0
8 Mohammad Nissar 1932-1936 2 10 5/93 19.70 2.94 1 0
9 Mohammed Shami 2014-2021 3 8 3/96 36.87 3.31 0 0
10 Mohammed Siraj 2021-2021 1 8 4/32 15.75 3.08 0 0

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Sourav Ganguly's Records: The former India captain turns 53

As the "Prince of Calcutta" turns 53, we look at all the records Sourav Ganguly created in his career. Check them out.

Jul 8, 2025, 9:47 AM4 min read

Sourav Ganguly Records: The former India captain turns 53 | sportzpoint.com

There is a saying in cricket, "When life gives you a Greg Chappel, be a Sourav Ganguly". Well, that's a bit controversial line to start an article about Sourav Ganguly records.

But that was the life and career of Sourav Ganguly, who rose against every odd and came back like a "Maharaj" (King, people from Kolkata call him that) every time he was pushed down.

Now, the former India captain, who turned 53 today, made some significant moves on and off the field which changed Indian Cricket forever.

To mark his birth anniversary, we present to you a list of Sourav Ganguly's records that he achieved throughout his career.

Read Also: Top 10 players with most runs in ICC knockout matches

Sourav Ganguly's records in tests

Sourav Ganguly's records in tests - sportzpoint.com
Ganguly during his maiden test inning at Lord's. 

Sourav Ganguly made his test debut in 1996 against England at Lords' Cricket Ground. At that time his selection was questioned. The pundits called him the "East-Zone quota". But a typical Sourav Ganguly made sure all the questions were answered with the bat in hand. 

Not to forget his mild-paced bowling. Let's take a look at Sourav Ganguly's records in tests.

  1. 62nd batsman in test cricket history to score a 100 on test debut.
  2. 6th test batsman to score centuries in the first two tests in his career.
  3. Highest Test score by a left-handed Indian batsman (239).
  4. Only test player to score a test century on debut and then score a zero in the last test innings.
  5. Only player to average more than 40 throughout his test career and play more than 100 test matches.

Read Also: Cricket records: Most test matches as an umpire

Sourav Ganguly's records in ODIs

Sourav Ganguly played a big part in building the 2011 World Cup-winning  Indian team: Manoj Tiwary

Though Ganguly was India's one of the best in the longest format, it was the white ball that he dominated more than anyone. Even more than Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting. 

Sourav Ganguly scored more white-ball runs than any other player during his time. Here are some of Sourav Ganguly's records in ODIs-

  1. He was the fastest man to reach 6000, 7000, 8000, and 9000 ODI runs while playing.
  2. Ganguly is the only cricketer to win four consecutive Man of the Match awards in One Day Internationals.
  3. Highest individual score by any batsman in an ICC Champions Trophy final (117).
  4. Sourav Ganguly was also the first player to hit 3 centuries in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy.
  5. Highest individual score in the ICC World Cup by any Indian player (183).
  6. He is also the third fastest to score 10000 ODI runs (263 ing).
  7. Most ODI runs by any left-handed Indian player (11363)
  8. Second most ODI runs in a single calendar year (1767 runs in 1999).
  9. The second-most ODI hundreds in a single calendar year (7 ODI tons in 2000).
  10. One of the five cricketers to have achieved the unique treble. Ganguly has scored more than 10,000 runs, and taken more than 100 wickets & 100 catches in ODI cricket.
  11. Third-highest run-scorer in ODI cricket among Indians and ninth overall.
  12. Sourav Ganguly also has the record of scoring the second-most tons by an Indian batsman in a single World Cup. ( 3 centuries in 2003)
  13. 10th most hundreds in ODI cricket (22).

Read Also: Most runs in Knockouts of ICC Tournament

Sourav Ganguly's records as captain

Sourav Ganguly's records as captain - sportzpoint.com

Sourav Ganguly is sometimes called the "accidental captain". He had never captained any team before being the captain of the Indian Cricket team.

Read Also | Ranking all Indian captains in ICC events

He took over the captaincy post during a tough time of the "Azhar Saga". But as Kapil Dev said, that was the moment Indian cricket's future was made. Here are some of the records Sourav Ganguly made as a captain-

  1. Till retirement, Sourav Ganguly had the most successful India captain in away tests (11 wins). Virat Kohli later went past him.
  2. Third most successful ODI captain among Indians (76 wins )
  3. Ganguly is the only Indian skipper to win a Test series in Pakistan.
  4. He took the captaincy when India was ranked 8 in Test rankings, and left India second-ranked in Test cricket, still a record for the biggest jump.
  5. 8th most matches as captain in ODI history (146)

Read Also: Most successful captains in Test cricket

"Giving that Indian team a lot of steel, self-belief, character. Forget about winning at home. I think all sides are comfortable winning at home. But it's about going outside in Test conditions that you are not familiar with against the best in the world and having that fire, hunger and belief to win. And I think that's where Dada made the biggest difference to Indian cricket."

Kumar Sangakkara on Sourav Ganguly as captain

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Ranking all Indian captains in ICC events

Explore the legacies of successful captains who carried the leadership role for India brilliantly. Ranking all Indian captains in ICC events for a better understanding of their journeys. Check them out.

Jul 8, 2025, 9:16 AM5 min read

Ranking all Indian captains in ICC events | sportzpoint.com

Everyone has an opinion on who the best Indian captain is, especially when it comes to ICC tournaments. The leadership role has been carried forward by many legendary cricketers who gave us moments to cherish forever. They carried the hopes of the nation in events like World Cup and Champions Trophy.

Keeping aside the biasness and individual preferences, it is now time to look at the numbers and check facts. Who truly performed best when it mattered most and led the team to history wins?

Here we are, ranking all Indian captains in ICC events to give you a clear picture.

1. MS Dhoni (2007-2017) | 3 ICC Trophies

MS Dhoni iis the most successful when it comes to Ranking all Indian captains in ICC events | sportzpoint.com
MS Dhoni carrying 3 ICC Trophies won as the captain of India. Image | TOI
  • ICC T20 World Cup: 2007
  • ICC Cricket World Cup: 2011
  • ICC Champions Trophy: 2013

MS Dhoni is the most successful Indian captain, who led them to win all the 3 major ICC titles during his tenure. From using his tactical brilliance under pressure to stepping up when the team needed him the most, this man has done it all!

The begining of Dhoni's captaincy era occured with a historic win in the inaugural season of T20 World Cup in 2007, where he stepped into the leadership role for the first time. And guess what, there was no looking back from that point.

Under his captaincy, India brought the ODI World Cup home after 28 long years in 2011, defeating Sri Lanka in a sensational final. He went on to win the 3rd trophy to fill his shining cabinet, with the 2013 Champions Trophy win.

Dhoni's time as the captain was a remarkable journey, filled with joyous wins and celebrations. He truly proved there is only one 'Captain Cool,' and shall forever be!

Dhoni's captaincy stats in ICC events:

Span Matches Won Lost Win%
2007-2017 58 40 18 68.97%

Read Also: MS Dhoni's captaincy record in ICC Finals

2. Rohit Sharma (2022-present) | 2 ICC Trophies

Rohit Sharma is 2nd when it comes to Ranking all Indian captains in ICC events | sportzpoint.com
Rohit Sharma poses with 2 ICC silverwares won as the Indian captain. Image | X
  • ICC T20 World Cup: 2024
  • ICC Champions Trophy: 2025

Rohit Sharma, with his incredible captaincy skills, not only joined this elite list, but also climbed to the top in a very short period. He took over the charge in 2022 and started moving forward at a good pace.

In 2023, Rohit led India to the World Test Championship Final, as well as the ODI World Cup Final, but the results didn't go in their favour. However, the team bounced back the following year and won the T20 World Cup after dominating throughout the tournament.

India got back-to-back reasons to celebrate, as the team brought the 2025 Champions Trophy home as well! With this feat, Rohit became the first and the only captain to lead a team to all ICC tournament finals.

Rohit announced his retirement from T20Is (in 2024, after the WC win) and Test cricket (in 2025). He will continue to lead India in the ODI format, with his eyes fixated on the 2027 World Cup.

Sharma's captain stats in ICC events:

Span Matches Won Lost Win%
2022-present 54 39 12 72.22%

3. Kapil Dev (1982-1987) | 1 ICC Trophy

Kapil Dev is the 3rd name when it comes to Ranking all Indian captains in ICC events | sportzpoint.com
Kapil Dev lifting the World Cup in 1983. Image | India TV News
  • ICC Cricket World Cup: 1983

Kapil Dev is the first World Cup winning captain for India, who lifted the trophy at the iconic Lord's, after a phenomenal victory over West Indies in 1983. At just 24 years of age, he became the youngest captain to win the WC for any team.

Although his captaincy stint was relatively short, but it was a time to remember as Indian cricket team saw a rise competing at the grandest stage. Dev led the nation to their first-ever ICC trophy, which is truly unforgettable.

Read Also: ICC tournaments hosted by India – History & Highlights

Dev's captaincy stats in ICC events:

Span Matches Won Lost Win%
1982-1987 15 11 4 73.33%

4. Sourav Ganguly (2000-2005) | 1 ICC Trophy

Ranking all Indian captains in ICC events | sportzpoint.com
Sourav Ganguly sharing the 2002 Champions Trophy with the Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya. Image | Facebook
  • ICC Champions Trophy: 2002

Sourav Ganguly's captaincy is widely regarded as a transformational period for Indian Cricket. He took over the team during a difficult period and instilled new sense of belief and competitiveness.

As the captain, he led India to reach the final of 2003 World Cup and 2000 Champions Trophy. The heroic moment arrived in 2002 Champions Trophy, when India performed excellently throughout and reached the finals to meet the host Sri Lanka.

The final match was washed out in Colombo, which led to the declaration of joint winners. However, this title marked India's first in the Champions Trophy, led elegantly by Ganguly.

Ganguly's captaincy stats in ICC events:

Span Matches Won Lost Win%
2000-2005 22 16 5 72.72%

Read Also: Most successful Test captains from India

5. Virat Kohli (2014-2022)

Virat Kohli is the must mention name when it comes to Ranking all Indian captains in ICC events | sportzpoint.com
Virat Kohli during his captaincy stint for India. Image | CNN
  • ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup: 2008

While Virat Kohli may not have secured a major ICC trophy as the senior Indian team captain, his leadership journey includes a significant triumph: captaining the U-19 team to a World Cup victory.

So, when the discussion is about greatest Indian captains, this legendary player shall always get a mention. He is one of those players who redefined Indian cricket.

His record as India's most successful Test captain, with an impressive 40 wins, solidifies his standing as one of the game's absolute best, consistently boosting team spirits and driving high standards.

Some things cannot be just measured by trophies, and King Kohli's tale is one of those that the future generations will hear and admire.

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Exclusive: "Watch out for him," Shreevats Goswami's statement for Akash Deep in 2020 is proving right now

Only after Akash Deep's second Ranji Trophy game in 2020, Shreevats Goswami warned the cricketing world to watch out for him. Shreevats shared his thoughts on Akash Deep after his sensational performance at Edgbaston.

Jul 7, 2025, 1:13 PM7 min read

Exclusive: "Watch out for him," Shreevats Goswami's statement for Akash Deep in 2020 is proving right now - sportzpoint.com

The entire cricketing world now recognizes the name Akash Deep, who dismantled the English batting lineup at Edgbaston, helping India achieve a historic victory in Birmingham.

His first-ever 10-wicket haul in a match places him alongside the greats of Indian cricket, such as Chetan Sharma, Kapil Dev, and Ishant Sharma

Not only that, he has now listed himself beside legend Michael Holding for dismissing four of England’s top five batsmen in a single Test innings (Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Ollie Pope), all without catches, relying on bowled or LBW dismissals. 

"Keep an eye on this guy," Goswami tweeted in 2020

Exclusive: "Watch out for him," Shreevats Goswami's statement for Akash Deep in 2020 is proving right now | sportzpoint.com
Shreevats Goswami with Akash Deep at Eden Gardens. Image | Shreevats Goswami on X.

Shreevats Goswami, a former Bengal and IPL cricketer, recognised early on that Akash Deep was destined for the international stage. In fact, he was the first to alert the world about Akash Deep back in 2020.

Right after Akash Deep's only second Ranji Trophy game, where Akash Deep picked up a five-wicket haul, Shreevats tweeted out, "Keep an eye on this guy, Akash Deep is a rare 'fast 'bowler in domestic cricket. Surely to watch out for in future. And he can tonk a few too."

"Yes, I knew from the beginning that he was built for greatness," Shreevats told Sportz Point after Akash Deep's historic spell at Edgbaston. 

Reflecting on Akash's maiden five-wicket haul in an innings, Shreevats remarked, "It was just a matter of time. After the first inning, I called him and said that he would get it in the second inning."

Read Also | Fast, accurate and fearless: Nuruddin Mondal bowling bouncer to life every day | Bengal Cricket Exclusive

"He hits the gloves hard"

Exclusive: "Watch out for him," Shreevats Goswami's statement for Akash Deep in 2020 is proving right now | sportzpoint.com
Akash Deep laoding for a delivery during a Ranji Trophy game in 2023. 

What led him to believe Akash Deep could become a future international star? "It was his pace and strength," Shreevats replied.

"He was raw. Some bowlers hit the gloves very hard, and Akash Deep was one of them," he recalled, emphasising the potential he saw in him during the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments.

"He was very young back then, and I knew with time, he would get faster and stronger. This is exactly what happened in the next two to three years."

In the next three years, Akash Deep played in the Indian Premier League alongside his favourite Virat Kohli and also helped Bengal reach the final of the Ranji Trophy, and then in 2024 went on to earn the Test cap as well. 

"You see him, you will notice how strong he is - physically and mentally. He has gone through so many tough times, but nothing could distract him from his goal.

Read Also | "Nothing to celebrate yet, the goal is to win the Ranji Trophy:" Bengal's Akash Deep after match-winning 10 wicket-haul

Akash Deep's journey - a testament to mental strength

Akash Deep at Eden Gardens after signing for Barisha Sporting Club in 2022 - sportzpoint.com
Akash Deep at Eden Gardens after signing for Barisha Sporting Club.

Since his early days, Akash Deep has faced many challenges in his career and personal life.

Born in Bihar, he initially encountered rejection from his father regarding his pursuit of cricket. In 2010, he moved to Durgapur, West Bengal, in search of a job and later relocated to Kolkata.

With the assistance of a few local club officials, he signed with the United Club and began his journey in Bengal cricket. He excelled in local club cricket and was soon fast-tracked to the Bengal U-23 team, where he played a pivotal role in helping Bengal reach the final of the C.K. Nayudu tournament and win the U-23 One-Day tournament.

He quickly progressed to the Bengal senior team, and as they say, the rest is history. Even a career-threatening back injury and the loss of his brother and father within six months in 2015 could not break his mental resolve.

Following the Edgbaston Test, he revealed that his sister is battling cancer and dedicated his performance to her. These experiences illustrate his remarkable mental toughness.

Read Also | Akash Deep from Ranji Trophy to test cricket 

"He always had the hunger:" Shreevats

Akash Deep after a picking up wicket in Ranji Trophy in 2023 | sportzpoint.com
Akash Deep after a picking up wicket in Ranji Trophy in 2023. 

Along with his resilience, another quality that sets Akash apart is his hunger for improvement and greatness.

"He used to live in the C.A.B. dormitory. Many cricketers were around, but whenever I visited the indoor facilities or gym, I would always see Akash Deep putting in the effort. He always had the hunger to reach the international level," Shreevats shared.

Read Also | Bengal Players in IPL 2025 – Full List & Performance

"Duckett will be Akash Deep's bunny"

"Duckett will be Akash Deep's bunny:" Shreevats Goswami | sportzpoint.com
Akash Deep after dismissing Ben Duckett. Image | X

Shreevats feels Akash Deep's ability to hit the wicket hard and extract something from the pitch will help him even on flatter pitches. Moreover, he can beat the batter's outside edge and inside edge, which makes him more threatening. 

"He will beat your outside edge and inside edge. This is something which sets him apart from the other domestic bowlers."

"Look at the wicket of Joe Root - how he went wide of the crease, angled the ball and then straightened it to get Root out was just incredible."

Along with Joe Root's wicket, Shreevats was impressed to see how Akash Deep got Ben Duckett out. He feels that if Akash Deep and Ben Duckett face each other more in test cricket, he will make Ben his bunny. 

"Just like Stuart Broad made David Warner his bunny in test cricket, I have the feeling that Akash Deep can also make Ben Duckett his bunny. Around the wicket, with the new ball - he will be deadly," Shreevats expressed. 

Who should share the new ball at Lord's?

Who should share the new ball at Lord's? Shreevats Goswami feels Akash Deep should bowl with new ball | sportzpoint.com
After taking his 5-wicket haul, Akash Deep sprinted joyfully to the dugout to hug Bumrah and Shardul Thakur.

 Shreevats feels that in the next test at Lord's, Akash Deep should share the new ball alongside Jasprit Bumrah. Throughout the entire second test, Akash Deep showed how lethal he is with the new ball, and that is why he wants him to run in with the new ball. 

"He is capable of getting you wickets in any given situation. But, just how he has got Duckett and others out, I feel he should share the new ball along with Bumrah," Shreevats said. 

Besides his bowling, Shreevats has always praised Akash Deep's batting ability from the start. He feels that Akash can even score a test ton in the next three to four years, given the opportunity. 

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