IPL 2022: Bowling short balls is my strength – RCB’s fast bowler Akash Deep

Royal Challengers Bangalore fast bowler Akash Deep has revealed that bowling short balls is his strength and he will continue to back it in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2022.

Deep, who has impressed with his extra pace, scalped three wickets against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Wednesday.

But the young pacer was a bit expensive in his spell as he conceded 45 runs in 3.5 overs he bowled. Deep accounted for Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana at the top of the order before dismissing Umesh Yadav in the penultimate over of the innings.

Akash Deep said in the post-match press conference, “Bowling short balls is my strength. In the first match, I was under pressure and, when I analyzed my bowling, I realized that I was not able to executive the deliveries properly. But it is my strength and I kept my faith in it. I have been doing the same for all these days, so I have belief in my strengths.”

The fast bowler from Bengal added that there was help in the surface and his plan was to pick wickets in the powerplay overs. RCB was able to reduce KKR to 44-3 after the first six overs and it played a key role in the team’s win.

“There was some help from the wicket. I was following the other games and realized it was important to pick wickets with the new ball because the bowlers are getting assistance at the start. My target was thus to claim a couple of wickets with the new ball. So I stuck to my plan, got some help from the surface and was able to pick up wickets for my team.”

On the other hand, Shahbaz Ahmed and David Willey were promoted in the batting as RCB team management decided to hold back experienced Dinesh Karthik for the end of the run-chase. Karthik showed nerves of steel as he played a cameo of 7-ball 14 to get his team over the line.

“We knew that Dinesh bhai (Karthik) is the best finisher in our team, so it was better to hold him back. Yes, that was the plan. The game was moving along and we were going at a run-a-ball. We saved Karthik because we knew that even if we needed 20 in the last two overs, he could do it. And we were backing him for the same.”

RCB will next lock horns against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday.