In the opening session 4th Test match in Ranchi, debutant fast bowler Akash Deep delivered an exceptional performance, causing significant trouble for the English team right from the start. The 27-year-old, who has his roots in Bihar but honed his cricketing skills in Bengal's domestic circuits, showcased an impressive control of pace and movement, troubling the English batters with his capability to swing the ball both ways. His remarkable spell, especially in the first hour of play, came after England's captain Ben Stokes decided to take the bat first.
Akash Deep dismisses Zak Crawley on a no-ball
Despite a strong start, Akash Deep's initial celebration of Crawley's wicket was cut short due to an overstepping, but he didn't let this deter his spirit. The turning point for Akash Deep came with a stunning three-wicket haul within just 10 deliveries, dismissing Ben Duckett for 11 runs, Ollie Pope for a duck, and Zak Crawley for 42 runs.
Akash Deep consistently troubled England batters
Akash Deep's relentless attack continued, particularly in the dramatic 10th over, which saw two batters dismissed and two reviews taken, with one decision favoring India. His first Test wicket, Duckett, fell prey to a delivery that subtly moved away, enticing an edge to the wicketkeeper.
Ollie Pope's dismissal followed immediately after, as he misjudged Akash Deep's inward-moving delivery, resulting in an LBW on review. Akash Deep didn't stop there; in his subsequent over, he successfully dismantled Crawley's defense, hitting the top of the off-stump and marking a memorable debut with figures of 7-0-24-3.
This spell not only highlighted Akash Deep's potential as a significant asset for the Indian cricket team but also set the tone for India's dominance in the session, leaving England in a precarious position early in the game. Akash Deep's debut has been nothing short of a dream start, promising exciting prospects for India's pace attack in the future.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
BIG NEWS: Big blow for England as another player returns home amidst ongoing Test series against India, set to miss Dharamsala Test
IND vs ENG: Ravichandran Ashwin becomes 4th cricketer in history to pick 100 wickets and score 1,000 runs against England in Tests; check list here
