Fast bowler Akash Deep is back on track and ready to play for Lucknow Super Giants in their upcoming IPL match against Mumbai Indians on Friday, April 4, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. He hasn’t played since the Boxing Day Test against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy last year due to a back injury that kept him out this season. He only joined the Super Giants’ camp two days before this match.
I think the first game is really important for me. I’ve played one practice match, but when you take a break for two or three months, it’s tough to build confidence just through practice,” Deep told reporters.
The 28-year-old is also making his T20 comeback, last appearing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium last year. Despite his time away, Deep feels ready to hit the field. “The jersey might change, but the player stays the same. I’m enjoying my time with this team. I haven’t been around because of my injury, but I’m feeling confident,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of trusting one’s process. “You’ve got to keep it simple. The easier your game is, the easier it is to perform. In a tournament like this, staying confident is key for any player,” Deep added.
As for the Super Giants, they’ve had a mixed start to IPL 2025, sitting sixth in the table with two points and a net run rate of -0.150 after winning one out of three games. Their captain, Rishabh Pant, hasn’t been in great form, managing just 17 runs at an average of 5.67.