Indian pacer Akash Deep revealed how Virat Kohli played an important role in helping the team avoid a continuation during the Gabba Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Akash Deep shared a memorable moment when Virat Kohli offered him one of his signature bats during the third Test.
The Men in Blue initially took a 1-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a commanding victory in Perth, but Australia regained control over the next six weeks. The hosts won three of the four remaining matches and regained the BGT trophy after a decade of India’s dominance in the series.
Virat Bhaiya himself asked me, ‘Do you want a bat?’ Deep Akash
During a challenging match at the Gabba in Brisbane, Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah shared a crucial 47-run partnership for the 10th wicket, helping India avoid a follow-on and virtually ensuring a draw in rain-affected conditions.
Reflecting on his innings, Akash Deep revealed that he used one of Virat Kohli’s signature bats, which the former Indian captain had offered him before the match. Akash recalled how Kohli had asked him if he needed a bat, to which he enthusiastically accepted.
“Yes, that was Virat bhaiya’s bat, the one with the MRF logo on it, everyone knows that,” Akash said in a meeting with PTI.
“Bhaiyya (Kohli) himself asked me, ‘Do you want a bat?’ (Virat bhaiyya asked me, do you need a bat?) I said, ‘Yes bhaiyya, who in the world would like to have your bat?’ (I said, ‘Yeah, who in the world wouldn’t want your bat?’) Then he introduced it to me,” he explained further.
Virat Kohli single-handedly gave me the bat – Akash Deep
Akash Deep admitted that he found it intimidating to ask Virat Kohli, given his height and concentration during match time. However, Kohli, on his own initiative, offered his bat to Akash. Akash made excellent use of the bat and played a crucial role in helping India avoid a defeat in the game.
“I have been there with bhaiyya (Kohli) for some time now. But you always have that thing in the back of your mind, whether it is the right thing to ask someone of Virat bhaiyya’s stature for a bat.”
“Especially during the match, when he is focused and in his zone, you don’t want to disturb him, but bhaiyya, alone, gave me the bat,” Akash said.
This was not the first time Kohli had gifted Akash a bat.
Akash joined Bumrah when India still needed 33 runs to avoid the follow-on. They managed to help the team avoid the continuation with patient defense. Akash cleared the follow-up mark with a cut shot over the slip cordon before hitting a memorable six over mid-wicket off the next ball.
This was not the first time Virat had gifted a bat to Akash. During the home series against Bangladesh, Kohli also gave Akash one of his trademark bats, showing the strong camaraderie within the Indian team.
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