For any cricketer, playing Test cricket for India is a dream come true. But Akash Deep’s journey to his Test debut had an unexpected twist. The Bengal pacer, who made his Test debut in 2024, shared a funny and humbling incident that happened the night before his big debut.
In an interview with Sports Launchpad, Akash revealed that he had received a message from none other than former captain and head coach Rahul Dravid. However, since Akash didn’t have Dravid’s number saved, he thought it was just another random message. Ignoring it at first, he later realized that it was from the cricket legend himself.
“I thought someone was asking about the Test match and just ignored it,” Akash recalled. “But then I realized it was Rahul sir’s message. I immediately called him and apologized. That’s when he confirmed I was playing the match.”
Akash, who hails from Bihar but plays for Bengal, made his Test debut in the third Test against England in Ranchi in 2024. On debut, he made an immediate impact, dismissing England's top three—Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Ollie Pope—helping India secure a five-wicket victory. His debut cap was presented to him by none other than Dravid, and it was the legendary coach who also encouraged Akash to invite his family