India's new pace sensation Akash Deep has heaped praises on the former Indian red-ball skipper Rohit Sharma. The pacer from Bengal hailed Rohit and remarked on him as a father figure.
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Rohit has retired from the Test and T20I formats and will only feature in the 50-over format going forward. Deep made his Test debut under Rohit in Ranchi, where he played against England.
Rohit Sharma is like a father figure to Akash Deep
In a recent interview with News 18, the young Indian pacer Deep praised Rohit's cricketing knowledge. The Indian ODI captain has been led the national side to several new heights in his stint as captain, also ending a decade-long drought of ICC trophies.
"There's always a father or a brother figure in a family, and that is how Rohit Sharma is," stated Akash Deep. When Rohit bhaiya was in the Test team, he had a lot of experience, and he had a lot of understanding of the game.
Rohit captained India in 24 Tests, winning 12 while drawing 3 games, with a win percentage of 50%. He has left a very strong impact on the Indian side and helped develop a solid foundation for the young generation to take over in the longer formats.
He called time to his career as a Test player earlier this year, post his disappointing returns in the longer formats in the past year or so.
How did Rohit Sharma help Akash Deep?
"He (Rohit) used to present us with strategies and supported us to the fullest. He was different," added Deep, who played a crucial role in India's historic Test victory against England at Edgbaston.
The pacer's growth as a Test cricketer has been impressive. In 10 Tests for India, the pacer has grabbed 28 wickets at an average of 35, including a 10-fer against England in Edgbaston. His steady action and ability to hit the deck hard separate him from the other Indian pacers.
Akash Deep shares experience of playing under new India Test captain Shubman Gill
Deep also praised Shubman Gill, the skipper, saying, "He's also very experienced. I have played with Gill before. I have played the Duleep Trophy with him and now the England series. He has been captaining in the IPL for some time now. He also has a lot of ideas. Both (Rohit and Gill) are good."
Gill took over the reign of India ahead of the big tour to England. His young side defied all odds and went on to draw the series 2-2, which was a huge achievement for such a young side.
India, under Gill, showed glimpses of what the future holds for them in the red-ball format. India's next big challenge will be the home Test series against the West Indies starting next month.