Akash Deep Ready to Make Comeback for Lucknow Super Giants Against Mumbai Indians
Akash Deep's Return to Action
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 3: As the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) prepare for their home match against the five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI), pacer Akash Deep has declared himself "100 percent fit and ready" to return to the field after a back injury sidelined him for three months.
This upcoming clash at Ekana Stadium features two teams struggling early in the season, with both LSG and MI managing only one victory from their first three matches. Akash Deep's return is particularly significant as he last played in two Tests in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy before sustaining an injury prior to the fifth Test in Sydney. He rejoined the LSG squad on April 2, just two days before the match.
"The first match is crucial for me. I participated in one practice match, but in cricket, a gap of two to three months means that no matter how much you practice, you need match play to regain confidence," Akash Deep shared during the pre-match press conference, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.
His last T20 appearance was with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during IPL 2024 in April. Since 2022, he has played eight matches for RCB, taking seven wickets. This marks his only T20 game in the past year and a half, with his last competitive outing being in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy from October to November 2023. Released by RCB before the 2024 Mega Auction, he was acquired by LSG for Rs eight crores.
"The jersey may change, but the player remains the same, and I am truly enjoying my time with this franchise. Although my time with the team has been limited due to injury, I feel quite confident," Akash stated.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining belief in one's process, saying, "Keeping the game simple makes it easier to perform. Confidence is key in a tournament like this."
LSG's rocky start to IPL 2025 under new captain Rishabh Pant has seen them lose to Delhi Capitals, secure a win against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and then fall to PBKS at home, largely due to injuries among their fast bowlers.
Mohsin Khan, a promising young pacer, has been ruled out of the tournament, leading to Shardul Thakur being brought in as a replacement. Mayank Yadav's recovery from a lumbar stress injury has been further complicated by a toe injury, leaving Avesh Khan and Prince Yadav among the remaining pace options.
Akash expressed confidence in the pace attack, noting that performance is often beyond the team's control. "We've only played three matches, and the IPL is a lengthy tournament. In these three games, we've identified many positives. Despite the injuries to four fast bowlers, I thought our performance in the first match was commendable. The tournament is long, and the best is yet to come," he remarked.
He also expressed excitement about playing under the guidance of Indian pace legend and mentor Zaheer Khan, stating, "I feel fortunate to be coached by such an esteemed figure for two months. His experience will help identify the improvements I need. As a fast bowler, you can't change too much, but small technical adjustments can make a difference."
Squads:
Mumbai Indians Squad: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton(w), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Ashwani Kumar, Vignesh Puthur, Corbin Bosch, Raj Bawa, Robin Minz, Satyanarayana Raju, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Karn Sharma, Reece Topley, Bevon Jacobs, Krishnan Shrijith, Arjun Tendulkar
Lucknow Super Giants Squad: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi, Manimaran Siddharth, Prince Yadav, Shahbaz Ahmed, Himmat Singh, Akash Maharaj Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Aryan Juyal, RS Hangargekar, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav, Shamar Joseph, Arshin Kulkarni.