“Sourav Sir Has Always Motivated Me” – Akash Deep’s Heartfelt Words Ahead Of Ranji 2025–26

Indian fast bowler Akash Deep expressed his deep gratitude toward former India captain and current Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly ahead of the Ranji Trophy 2025–26.

The 28-year-old, who continues to represent Bengal in red-ball cricket, shared how Ganguly’s encouragement has kept him motivated throughout his career. Akash mentioned that such guidance has helped him maintain focus and discipline. The pacer also recalled Bengal’s near-misses in recent years, finishing as runners-up in 2019–20 and 2022–23.

He said : “Sourav sir has always motivated me through calls and messages. He tells simple things like focusing on the process and hard work instead of worrying about the results. Who can understand this pain more than me? Coming so close twice and failing to lift the trophy, so that pain is there in my heart. My biggest dream is to win the Ranji Trophy for Bengal. People love cricket a lot here and respect the players. So, we should win the trophy for them. The level of domestic cricket in India has gone up significantly. There is more pressure in domestic cricket as you have to be very disciplined.”

Bengal’s Strengths And Consistent Progress

Akash, who represented India in the five-match Test series against England earlier this year, took 13 wickets in six innings and even played a valuable 66-run innings in the final Test.

After recovering from a back injury through rehab, he returned with an impressive performance in the Irani Cup, where he picked up three wickets. While talking about Bengal’s preparation for the upcoming Ranji season, Akash highlighted the team’s steady growth and discipline-driven culture.

“I’ve been playing with Bengal for five-six years. We all know that we are a team that always plays with discipline; it is our strength and why we have been so successful in red-ball cricket. Obviously, the trophy has eluded us in the last five years, but Bengal’s success rate has been very good. So, the process remains the same, playing with discipline.”

Learning Opportunity With Mohammad Shami

Bengal will begin their campaign against Uttarakhand at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Wednesday, October 15, with Akash determined to turn Ganguly’s inspiration into a winning season. As Bengal aims for a breakthrough season, Akash Deep will share the dressing room with veteran pacer Mohammad Shami in the upcoming Ranji Trophy.

He expressed: “It will be my first opportunity to play with Shami bhai. I’ve not had an experience of playing with him. This is my first chance, so I will get to know how it feels once I play with him. You get to learn a lot of things when you play with such an accomplished player. From how he prepares to the efforts he puts in, I will get to learn a lot of things from him.”