Akash Deep has finally spoken about the send-off he gave Ben Duckett after dismissing him in the final Test at The Oval in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
In an exclusive interview with Boria Majumdar on RevSportz, Akash Deep was asked about the incident. He said: “Yes, I had already got him out a few times by then, but the way he was batting, I was also a bit confused which areas to bowl to him. He told me: ‘You cannot take my wicket in this innings’, and then got out to my bowling. That was what I was telling him during the send-off, that ‘sometimes you miss, I hit’.”
Duckett was one of the biggest challenges for India’s bowlers in the series. He scored 462 runs in five matches at an average of 51.33. He batted aggressively and played a destructive innings off 43 off 38 at The Oval in the first innings. But when Akash Deep dismissed him, he put his arm around Duckett’s shoulders and appeared to say something.
Although the gesture did not look aggressive, many cricket pundits felt such actions should be avoided.
Later in the match, Akash Deep made another mark — this time with the bat. He scored crucial 66 runs in India’s second innings. During that innings, he was again seen putting his arm around Duckett’s shoulders, but this time both players were smiling.
However, several former cricketers and commentators, including Dinesh Karthik and Duckett’s coach James Knott, were found not impressed with Akash Deep’s actions.
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