IND vs ENG: What is Spot Bowling? The Method which helped Akash Deep grow as a Bowler

Bengal pacer Akash Deep Singh has made his India debut in the ongoing 4th Test against England in Ranchi.

The fast bowler has also made a superb start, picking up three wickets in the first innings of the match. Akash Deep, who was born in a small village named Baddi in Bihar, rode a long topsy-turvy path towards success.

His career only started to grow when he came to Kolkata and his talent propelled the pacer along the way. After a few excellent seasons with Bengal, the 27-year-old has finally got his dream India debut.

Bengal's head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla spoke recently and opened up on the impact of Target Bowling (aka Spot Bowling) in Akash Deep's emergence as a bowler.

What is Spot Bowling in Cricket?

Spot Bowling is a different method of bowling which doesn't involve a batter. In cricket, the usage of Target bowling has been growing as it has seen amazing results. Now coaches across the globe use the Target Bowling method to improve the accuracy of a bowler.

In Spot Bowling, a bowler bowls to a Target, which is kept on the pitch. Only the wicketkeeper is behind the stumps and instead of the batter, a bowler attempts to hit the target that is set.

India pacer Akashdeep Singh has benefitted from it and it was Bengal coach Saurasish Lahiri, who pioneered the way of coaching in the Bengal Ranji team. Laxmi Ratan Shukla, the head coach of the Bengal team recently spoke to OneIndia Bengali on how Spot Bowling improved Akash Deep as a bowler.

Saurasish Lahiri on Spot Bowling's role in Akash Deep's Emergence

MyKhel had a talk with Saurasish Lahiri and the Bengal coach explained how it aided Akash Deep's prowess.

"We use Target Bowling for all the bowlers. Pacers and Spinners both use it and it helps to make a bowler accurate. It reduces the errors in line and length and helps to maintain rhythm as it enhances concentration. Akash Deep was always a superb bowler, but Target Bowling also helped him," Lahiri said exclusively to MyKhel.

"His story is different from others. He used to play Tennis ball cricket and after playing in a Kolkata club, he was introduced to deuce ball. He impressed me from Day One and the day he wore the Bengal jersey, his graph escalated," the Bengal coach concluded.