LSG's Akash Deep 'fully fit and ready to return' after extended injury break

Akash Deep Declares Himself "100% Fit and Ready" After Extended Injury Layoff

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Akash Deep has confirmed his return to full fitness after a three-month break due to a back injury. The injury, which ruled him out ahead of the fifth Test in Sydney during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, kept him away from competitive cricket until now.

Joining the LSG squad on April 2—just two days before their clash with Mumbai Indians in Lucknow—Akash Deep expressed his eagerness to return to action.

“I believe the first game back is crucial,” he said during a media interaction. “Although I’ve played a practice match, when you’ve been out for two to three months, no matter how much you train, you only regain true confidence through match play.”

The right-arm pacer, who previously represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2024, has had limited T20 exposure in recent times. His last T20 appearance came over a year ago, with his most recent domestic outing being in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in late 2023. Released by RCB ahead of the 2025 auction, he was picked up by LSG for INR 8 crore.

“The jersey may have changed, but the player is the same,” he said. “I’ve not been around the team long due to injury, but I’m really enjoying my time here and feel confident.”

He emphasized the importance of trusting one’s process: “In a tournament like the IPL, confidence is everything. Keeping the game simple and sticking to your process helps you perform better.”

LSG, under new captain Rishabh Pant, have had a mixed start to IPL 2025. After narrowly losing to Delhi Capitals in their opener, they bounced back against Sunrisers Hyderabad before falling to Punjab Kings. Currently, they sit in the lower half of the points table.

Injuries have hampered LSG’s fast-bowling stocks, with Mohsin Khan ruled out of the season and Mayank Yadav suffering a toe injury while recovering from a lumbar stress issue. Despite this, the pace attack—led by Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, and youngster Prince Yadav—has shown promise.

“Performances aren’t always in our control,” Akash Deep said. “But in just three matches, we’ve seen plenty of positives. Despite four pace bowlers being injured, the way we started was impressive. The IPL is a long tournament—the best is yet to come.”

He also spoke about his excitement to work with LSG mentor and former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan.

“I feel fortunate to be coached by someone of Zaheer sir’s stature,” he said. “As a fast bowler, there aren’t many major changes you make, but small technical tweaks can have a big impact. With his experience, I believe he can guide me in making those improvements.”

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