“You aren’t aware of your capabilities” – Gautam Gambhir’s words to Akash Deep

Team India pacer Akash Deep has praised head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying the coach believes in him more than he believes in himself. Under Gambhir and new Test captain Shubman Gill, India secured a 2-2 draw in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England.

Akash Deep impressed with the ball, taking 13 wickets in six innings, including one four-wicket haul and one five-wicket haul. With the bat, he surprised everyone by scoring a crucial 66 in the second innings of the fifth and final Test at The Oval.

While speaking to PTI, Akash Deep recalled what Gambhir told him after that knock.
He said: "You aren't aware of your capabilities. See, I was telling you, you can do it. You always have to play with dedication."

“Gautam bhai is a very passionate coach. He always motivates us. He believes in me more than I believe in myself, in both my batting and my bowling,” he added.

The pacer also praised Gill’s captaincy despite it being his first series as Test captain.
“He is a very good captain. It's not like he's a new captain. He's already been an IPL captain for a couple of years, which is a big platform, and that experience counts,” Akash Deep said.

“My job is to perform and be ready for the call-up” - Akash Deep

He added that Gill’s support made a big difference. “With Shubman as captain, I didn't feel like I was playing for the first time. He's very supportive. When a captain backs you and understands things well, especially when you're down, it makes a big difference. I played in the Duleep Trophy under his captaincy last year, so it wasn't the first time. He's a cool customer with plenty of ideas, and when someone is calm, it helps in making good on-field decisions,” he said.

Finally, Akash Deep shared his desire to play all formats for India. “We can't just go and talk to selectors. They're experienced people and, when they feel they need me for any format, they will call. My job is to perform and be ready for the call-up,” he concluded.

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