Akash Deep on Ben Duckett Send-Off: Indian fast bowler Akash Deep became the talk of the cricket world after a unique send-off to England opener Ben Duckett during the 5th Test at The Oval. After dismissing Duckett, Deep placed his hand on the batter’s shoulder, smiled, and said something that caught everyone’s attention.
While some fans and experts criticised the act, others praised Duckett for staying calm. The Bengal pacer later shared the full story behind the incident. Deep revealed that he has dismissed Duckett several times in the past and is always confident when bowling to left-handers. On that day, Duckett had told him he wouldn’t get him out. The Englishman also played some unorthodox shots to unsettle the bowler’s rhythm, making it tough to stick to a consistent line and length.
England had made a quick start, scoring 92 runs inside 13 overs, when Deep finally broke the stand by removing Duckett for 43 off 38 balls.
“This Time, I Win” –Akash Deep on Ben Duckett Send-Off
Deep explained that there was no bad intent behind his gesture. “We were defending a small score, so wickets were important. When I got him out, I told him, ‘You miss, I hit. You won’t always win. This time, I win.’ It was just a continuation of what he was saying earlier. Everything was in good spirit,” he said.
The right-arm pacer admitted that batters who move around and play unconventional shots can make it challenging for bowlers to maintain accuracy. Still, he stayed focused and delivered the breakthrough India needed.
A Memorable 5th Test Win for India
Deep’s contributions weren’t limited to the ball. In India’s second innings, he played a crucial knock of 66 runs, helping the team set England a target of 374. The match turned into a thriller as England fought hard but were bowled out for 367, giving India a narrow six-run victory and levelling the series 2-2.
The incident with Duckett added drama to an already exciting game, but both players handled it in good spirit, showing that competitive banter is part of Test cricket’s charm.
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