Witnessing Akash Deep’s Breakthrough Spell at Edgbaston

Akash Deep. Image: Debasis Sen

Gargi Raut in Birmingham

The second Test at Edgbaston was a coming of age for many young players under Shubman Gill’s leadership. As a journalist, there are only so many moments that leave a lasting imprint, like watching a young cricketer come to life on the grand stage. Amid the buzz of the second Test, the concerns and doubts over India’s performance in the last Test at Leeds and the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, one bowler was quietly scripting a roaring comeback to Test cricket. And Akash Deep was his name. He produced a spellbinding performance and many of the journalists had the privilege of getting the best seat in the house. Akash put on an exhibition of seam bowling excellence that made him stand out as a potential leader of the Indian pace attack in the absence of Bumrah.

A rain delay meant more waiting and quiet anticipation in the press box before play finally resumed at 12:40. England were under insurmountable pressure but showed no signs of backing down or going for a draw. And when Akash ran in with the relatively new ball, you could tell that he was meant to bundle up the English batters. In just his third over, he struck. Ollie Pope was the first to go, a delivery that jagged up awkwardly, hit his arms and ricocheted onto the stumps.

That dismissal opened the floodgates. Then came one of the best deliveries that we’d see in the day. A peach of a ball that nipped in and trapped Harry Brook. Brook did not stand a chance as it thudded into his inside thigh. It was the kind of delivery fast bowlers dream of and batters dread.

Akash had sent the tempo for the day, and from there on, he was relentless, rarely bowling loose deliveries. Every over, he would create a chance, and every ball was an event. And when he returned after lunch, the sun was out but England’s hopes had taken a battering with their skipper Ben Stokes falling before the interval.

Although Akash completely dominated the first session, England showed some resistance in the form of Jamie Smith who made a brisk 88. The short-ball ploy was deployed but Smith took it apart, hitting sixes and fours before a precise bouncer landed him in trouble. As he lofted a catch to square leg, the Indian crowd in the stadium erupted in a roar.

By the time Akash took the final wicket of the day – Brydon Carse, who was swinging for the trees – it was clear that we had witnessed something special. The birth of a star, one that India desperately needed. Alongside the incredibly spirited performances from the batters, especially Gill’s double-ton followed by a century, Akash’s figures of 6-99 in the innings and 10 wickets in the match were a statement. One that screamed: “Do not discount the Indian bowling lineup, even without Jasprit Bumrah.”

With it, India breached the fortress of Edgbaston and their comeback after they had been written off by many England and India fans, was more than impressive. In the middle of one of biggest transitions in their Test history, India found more than a silver lining. For Akash, left out in the first Test, this was redemption and elevation. From the quiet corners of domestic cricket to centre stage at one of England’s iconic venues, his journey took a giant leap forward in front of us all.

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