[WATCH] 'Not about one player...'- Akash Deep's cryptic reply on Virat Kohli's absence in India's Test side

When Virat Kohli decided to retire from the longest format of the game just a few weeks before the start of the five-match red-ball series in England, many thought that the Blue Brigade would lack experience in the team’s leadership department and the batting line-up. The selection committee decided to go with Shubman Gill as the new captain.

Gill was excellent in terms of his first away Test series in England, a place where playing Tests isn’t an easy job for this national side. But he handled the situation pretty well. Akash Deep, the Indian pacer, who was part of the squad and played three Tests at Edgbaston, Lord’s, and Oval in a seven-week trip, was asked if they missed Kohli during the tour.

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“See, it’s a team. In my opinion, whenever we aren’t in the team, someone else will come into the side after us. But the environment of the side remains the same or perhaps used to be the same. Because the team is not made up of one player. It’s made up of 11 players, and all of them remain so vital.” Deep shed light during the recent interaction on Aj Tak.

Watch: Akash Deep gives cryptic reply on Virat Kohli’s absence in India’s test side

The Bihar-born pacer, who has overall picked up 28 wickets in 18 innings at an average of 35.68 and a strike rate of 54.8, thanks to the best bowling figures of 6/99 in an innings, highlighted how the former Indian captain, Virat Kohli, enhanced the Test skills and mindset of the side in the last few years.

“So, during his day, he took the side to the peak, and you know, the changes he brought to the Test side, and now Gill is here, and the success he has had in the recent series. So, everyone is doing a great job in their department.” The Bengal pacer addressed.

Deep picked up 10 wickets during their second Test victory at Edgbaston in Birmingham before picking up another three wickets in the four innings at Lord’s and Oval.