“The structure BCCI has in domestic cricket is so strong that by the time you get to this level, you are already playing high-level cricket,” said Akash, who has played two Tests so far, in Kanpur. “You know what your bowling is like and what you have to do. So I don’t get anything new here. The routines we followed to get here, we just need to follow those and take it forward.”
Seniors in the Indian group help the newcomers to feel comfortable in the new environment. “I am very lucky to play for India under him [Rohit Sharma],” said Akash. “You keep things simple. I had doubts when I came to the Indian team, about the pressure, some confusion… but when I got down, [Rohit] drink he made things so easy for me that I didn’t know whether I was playing domestic cricket or international cricket. I don’t think in my life I could have asked for a captain who made things so easy.”
After his release, Akash applied all that he had learned to the international stage – he came in after 30 first-class matches, 28 List A and 41 T20 matches, where he took 104, 42 and 48 wickets respectively – and they are working on how to improve further.
“I have played a lot of cricket in the last two years,” he said. “Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, so we are used to playing cricket for a long time. I think as a cricketer it is important to understand yourself. Suddenly when we are selected for a new team, there should not be any confusion ‘I did this in Ranji Trophy, what should I do here? ?’
“I worked for it, I worked on my strength. What can I add to my pitching? I’ve spent time thinking about those things. Simple things. I don’t put pressure on myself, I just have to play on it. [November’s tour of ] Australia, or in any other major chain. I live now. I think today, this game, helps me keep things simple.”
Akash also opened up about the little connection he has with the ground here. “I am from Banaras, which is not far from here. I had heard about a stadium – Green Park – when I was young, and I thought it was because the whole place was green. I had never seen stadiums at that time. I remembered it after I came here, that the first stadium I ever heard about was Green Park.
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