Akash Deep reveals he ignored Rahul Dravid's message confirming India Test debut

India pacer Akash Deep had waited years for his opportunity to play for the country, but when the moment finally arrived, he initially ignored the message that confirmed he would make his Test debut.

The fast bowler revealed that then India head coach Rahul Dravid had messaged him a day before the Test to tell him he would be playing. But because Dravid’s number was not saved on his phone, Akash Deep assumed it was another of the many messages players receive before a match.

“I got a message from Rahul sir saying, ‘You are playing tomorrow.’ His number was not saved on my phone, so I ignored the message,” Akash Deep said on Panchayat Aaj Tak Bihar.

The uncertainty, however, stayed with him. He said he spent around 11-12 hours wondering whether he would actually make his India debut.

“I was restless because I had a doubt whether I was playing. When I checked the message again, I realised it was Rahul sir’s number. I called him and said sorry, sir, your number was not saved, so I missed the message,” he said.

Once he got confirmation, Akash Deep looked at the opportunity differently. Rather than being overwhelmed by the occasion, he saw the Test as an examination of everything he had done throughout his cricketing journey.

“I was happy, but I looked at it as an opportunity. I thought that this was the biggest opportunity of my life. Whatever I had done over 22-23 years, these five days were the examination for that,” he said.

FROM VILLAGE CRICKET TO INDIA

Akash Deep’s route to the India dressing room was far from conventional. Growing up in Sasaram, Bihar, he did not have access to a proper cricket ground and had never even seen leather-ball cricket before leaving home.

He initially played as a batsman but switched to bowling after moving out because cricket equipment was expensive. The decision eventually changed the course of his career.

After moving to Delhi, he later shifted to Kolkata, where he began playing club cricket. His progress was rapid, and he soon moved into professional cricket before eventually representing Bengal and earning his India call-up.

His Test debut also carried personal significance because it came in Ranchi, relatively close to Bihar. His mother and other family members were able to travel and watch him play for India.

Akash Deep has also been working on becoming a more useful contributor with the bat. He said Gautam Gambhir encouraged him to develop that aspect of his game and that he wants to contribute whenever India needs runs from the lower order.

“I cannot betray the thing that has given me everything. Bowling has given me everything in life, so I will always choose bowling. But whenever I get an opportunity to bat, I will take it,” he said.

The pacer now has his eyes on the current World Test Championship cycle. He said his immediate focus is on the remaining seven matches before the final, beginning with the upcoming series against New Zealand.

For someone who once found leather-ball cricket unfamiliar, Akash Deep’s journey to India’s Test team has been extraordinary. And before he could step onto the field for India, there was one last moment of uncertainty: he had to find out whether the message from Rahul Dravid was actually telling him he was going to play.

– Ends