5 months ago
2
Fast, assertive and relentless — that sums up Tamil Nadu pacer Deepesh Devendran’s showing successful the recently-concluded under-19 Asia Cup tourney successful Dubai.
The teen finished arsenic the tournament’s starring wicket-taker with 14 wickets successful 5 matches, including a champion of 5 for 22 against Malaysia.
The 17-year-old’s performances person earned him a spot successful India’s squad for the ICC u-19 World Cup, scheduled to beryllium held successful Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6 adjacent year. Deepesh’s Tamil Nadu teammate and all-rounder R.S. Ambrish, too, has made the cut.
In an exclusive enactment with the The Hindu, Deepesh expressed his delight astatine being selected and reflected connected his Asia Cup performances.
“I’m truly blessed to beryllium portion of the squad. Honestly, I conscionable emotion playing the game. I ne'er imagined that I would correspond the state astatine a World Cup oregon an Asia Cup, and to beryllium present present makes maine highly happy,” said Deepesh.
Speaking astir the squad environment, helium said: “Everyone is affable and, much importantly, precise helpful. We recognize our strengths, and the bonding wrong the radical is strong. We gel well.”
Deepesh besides credited the coaching unit for giving the players freedom. “Our coaches didn’t enactment immoderate unit connected us, and that made a immense difference, particularly for me. They conscionable told america to spell out, explicit ourselves without fear, and that truly helped.”
Deepesh besides acknowledged the relation of elder cricketers successful his development. “I privation to notation (TN pacer) Sandeep Warrier, who has guided maine passim and played a large relation successful my development. Also, (former India seamer) Debashish Mohanty helped maine a batch during the Australia series. He told maine to spell retired and bash what I bash champion and assured maine of his backing, and a batch of the recognition goes to him arsenic well”.
