ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Akash Deep to play CT? Pacer provides massive fitness update

India National Cricket Team pacer Akash Deep talked about his fitness ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The fast bowler also shared his take on sharing the field with premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who, according to him, is a unique kind of bowler.

India National Cricket Team pacer Akash Deep is currently recovering from the injury he faced after the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He was ruled out of the last match, which took place at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.

Akash Deep faced injury after the 4th Test in Australia

Akash Deep, who played two games against Australia in Gabba and Melbourne, couldn't make the like of impact he would've wanted. He picked 5 wickets at an average of over 54, but it's fair to say he was extremely unlucky as he had catches dropped off his bowling; he beat edges ample of time and the edges didn't carry as well, which made things tough for him.

Akash Deep, after suffering the injury, has been advised to rest before he heads to NCA. The fast bowler will be vital in the Tests going ahead as the five-match Test series against the England National Cricket Team is the next assignment for the team. The series will be played in June.

I’ve just come back after playing a long stretch of cricket, so I’m also taking a mental break - Akash Deep

Akash Deep revealed that he had back stiffness and said that he would start practicing after 10-15 days. He added that he is currently taking a mental break, saying that it will be up to the management to see when he will be available. Speaking to Dainik Jagran, he explained:

"I couldn’t play the last Test in Sydney due to some stiffness in my back, but it wasn’t a major issue. Currently, I am resting. I’ll start practicing again after 10-15 days. The rest of the decisions are in the management's hands regarding when I’ll be available for matches. I’ve just come back after playing a long stretch of cricket, so I’m also taking a mental break."

He also spoke about his recovery, saying that he is following the advice of NCA and will resume bowling when the team tells him. He added:

"All good. My recovery is on course and since I had been playing non-stop cricket for a considerable period of time, I was advised to off-load for 15 days. I am following the advice of NCA and once they instruct me to start bowling, I will do so," he said in an interview with PTI.

God has made everything about him different - Akash Deep

Deep also talked about Jasprit Bumrah, saying that God has made everything different about the pacer. He added that there is a lot to learn from the mindset of a premier pacer, claiming that all these things help him a lot. He told Dainik Jagran:

"I talk to Bumrah Bhai often. He is a unique kind of bowler. God has made everything about him different—his actions are unique, and it’s difficult to replicate someone like him. While we can’t learn everything from him, we can pick up on technical aspects like his mindset, his thinking, and his ability to read batters. These things help a lot.

"These small details become very important in handling different situations, and Bumrah Bhai has a lot of knowledge about that. I try to learn as much as I can from him."

Read Also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Jasprit Bumrah ordered bed rest as BCCI blocks his return