After putting in relentless effort in domestic cricket, Akash Deep from Bihar finally earned his Test debut in the fourth Test against England in Ranchi, which commenced on Friday.
The 27-year-old fast bowler Akash Deep found himself in a challenging situation, stepping into the shoes of Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for workload management ahead of a busy T20 season. Despite the pressure, Akash Deep proved to be a worthy replacement, showcasing an impressive pace of nearly 140 KPH and creating significant movement off the pitch.
In his second over, Akash Deep seemed to have claimed Zak Crawley’s wicket by toppling his off-stump, only to be rejected due to a no-ball. Nevertheless, he persisted, taking an around-the-wicket approach and bowling outside the off-stump channel. This tactic paid off as he forced an outside edge from Ben Duckett, caught by Dhruv Jurel. Shortly after, he won Ollie Pope’s dismissal, although India had to resort to the DRS to overturn the on-field decision.
Despite Crawley’s initial escape, Akash Deep persisted in keeping a good length and line. The relentless effort paid off as he dismissed Crawley, this time truly hitting the top of the off-stump. A noteworthy debut spell for Akash Deep ended with figures of 7-0-24-3. The young bowler not only filled Bumrah’s shoes but left a mark of his own on the game.
Twitter fans showered Akash with immense praise, acknowledging the challenges he faced a few years ago when he tragically lost both his father and brother within a span of three months.
Here is how fans reacted to Akash Deep’s performance:
