IPL 2025, LSG vs MI: Fast bowler Akash Deep said that working with Lucknow Super Giants mentor Zaheer Khan is a massive honour for him. After recovering from a back injury, the pacer declared himself fit before the match.
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00:00I am 100% ready to play and I think I will play the first match because I have played only one practice match till now and when you get a gap in cricket for 2-3 months, no matter how much you practice, you don't build confidence until you get a match.
00:18So I think the first match is very important for me.
00:23What do you want to say about the performance of both the teams?
00:30In cricket, performance is not in control as a team.
00:36I think we have played only 3 matches and IPL is a big tournament and we have got a lot of positive things in our team.
00:44Even after our 4 fast bowlers got injured, we performed as a team in the first match.
00:50So I think good things are with us and the tournament is big.
00:55So good things are yet to come.
00:59NB and fans are expecting the same as last year?
01:13Of course sir, jersey changes and a person stays where he is.
01:18But I am feeling very good with this franchisee.
01:21I have not been able to stay with the team for a long time due to injury.
01:26But the time I stayed with the team was 2-3 days before I came here.
01:29So I am feeling very good and I am feeling very confident.
01:33I think for this type of competition, it is very important to be confident as a player.
01:43Akash, you have joined the team.
01:46There was a lot of discussion about the pitch in the last match.
01:49What was your assessment?
01:51What did you feel when you saw the pitch from there?
01:55Actually sir, I joined last night and I was in the NCA.
02:00So I don't think I have time to think about what will happen that day.
02:06And I couldn't observe much because we had practice that day.
02:10Did you discuss anything with the coaches?
02:12I joined the team last night.
02:14So today is the first practice session.
02:16So I will talk to everyone about how it is.
02:18Akash, do you think you have the capability to save 150-250 runs?
02:28Look sir, you have been watching IPL for the last two years.
02:34The way you can't predict the score here.
02:39Even if you score 240 runs, you get chased.
02:41Even if you score 260 runs, you get chased.
02:43So promise me that you can save 150 runs.
02:47But I feel that if all the fast bowling units are together,
02:51we have a balanced side in batting and bowling.
02:55One last question.
02:57LHG's manager Zaheer Khan has been with India's Premier League.
03:02He has also been with you.
03:04So what do you learn from him?
03:06Will you try to learn as much as possible from Zaheer Khan
03:09so that not only for your franchise,
03:11but also for the future of Team India?
03:14Of course, sir.
03:16I feel lucky that I will get a chance to play under such a big coach.
03:21And that too for 2-3 months.
03:23Because he had a very good and good international experience.
03:27So all the small things,
03:29because he has been such a big bowler,
03:31he himself knows what can be improved in me.
03:34As a fast bowler, you can't change a lot of things on this level.
03:38But the small technical things that are there,
03:41the coaches of good levels know them.
03:44So I feel that I will get that help.
03:47We'll take the last two.
03:53What is your mindset when you play with the NCA team?
03:59Look, sir.
04:00The NCA process is such that we ourselves didn't know
04:03whether I would join the team on the 3rd or 2nd.
04:06So what can I say about that?
04:08But I feel that it is also very good.
04:10And he can join the team very soon.
04:12Final question.
04:13Which team do you believe in in Mumbai?
04:17Look, sir.
04:18Every team is good in IPL.
04:20You have to take everyone in that way.
04:24And I feel that as an individual,
04:27you have to believe in your process.
04:29You have to focus on your process.
04:31Then you will keep the game easier
04:33and it will be easier for you to perform.