Akash Deep refuses to use Virat Kohli’s gifted bat: 'I'll never play with it'

India National Cricket Team fast bowler Akash Deep narrated how Virat Kohli offered him a bat ahead of the first Test against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. He said the batter gave him the bat himself, and he won't be using that bat ever because it's a big gift.

India National Cricket Team are currently engaged in the Test series against Bangladesh National Cricket Team. They won the first game of the series by a massive margin of 280 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series, finishing the match in just 4 days.

Akash Deep played a vital role for his team with the ball in the first game. He bowled impeccable lines and lengths and picked two wickets in the first innings. In the second innings, he was decent as well and also retained his place in the team for the second match of the series.

Ahead of the first game, Akash Deep received a bat from premier batter Virat Kohli. The fast bowler shared the picture of the bat on his social media and revealed that he got a bat from the right-hander, thanking him for the gift that he got from Kohli.

Now, after that first match, Akash Deep has narrated the entire incident about how he got a bat from Virat Kohli. The fast bowler revealed that he didn't ask anything from the batter, but he came to him and asked him if he needed a bat.

Akash Deep revealed he got very excited when Virat Kohli offered him his bat and couldn't even respond when the batter asked him about what kind of bat he needed. Speaking to the Times of India, the fast bowler explained:

"Virat bhaiya ne khud se bat diya tha [Virat bhaiya himself gave me the bat]. He must have observed something about my batting. I didn't ask for it; he came to me and asked, 'Bat chaiye kya tujhe?' Who wouldn’t want a bat from Virat bhaiya?

"He is a legend. I was very happy to hear his words and wanted that bat. He asked me what kind of bat I use while batting, and I just smiled—I didn't have words."

Then he said, 'Yeh le, rakh le yeh bat.' - Akash Deep on Virat Kohli

Akash Deep further detailed how Virat Kohli gave him the bat and mentioned that he would keep the bat as a souvenir on the wall of his room as it has his autograph as well. He elaborated:

"Then he said, 'Yeh le, rakh le yeh bat.' I will never play with that bat; it is a big gift from Virat Bhaiya, and I will keep it as a souvenir on the wall of my room. I even got his autograph on the bat."

Virat Kohli didn't have a great time with the bat in the first Test against Bangladesh. He scored 6 runs in the first innings as he was removed by Hasan Mahmud, and after that scored just 17 runs in the second innings as he was trapped in lbw by Mehidy Hasan Miraz.