Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham
It was a day where England threatened to turn the game. From 84 for 5, Jamie Smith and Harry Brook stitched together a mammoth 303-run partnership. But India didn’t let the advantage slip. They were ruthless with the second new ball — Mohammed Siraj struck gold with six wickets, Akash Deep chipped in with four, and the rest of England’s line-up folded swiftly. With a lead of 244 and nine wickets in hand, India are in a strong position, correcting all the errors that haunted them in Leeds. Akash, who starred with the ball, addressed the media post day’s play.
On today’s performance and continuity of chances
“I don’t want to think that I don’t get regular chances in the team. Whenever I get a chance, I try to do my best. That’s the mindset. Today was about making an impact, staying in the moment, and delivering for the team.
On how difficult was bowling on this pitch
“Yes, the conditions were difficult. The pitch wasn’t offering much, especially through the middle phase. But it’s about planning — how you adapt to the challenge. Some days you get results, some days you don’t, but your mindset and process can’t change.”
On tips from Gautam Gambhir and Morne Morkel
“They’ve been guiding me right from when I joined the team. Both GG and Morne bhai told me — ‘You have skills you yourself don’t know about. Unleash them.’ That line really stayed with me. It gave me belief and clarity about what I bring to the table.”
On bowling without Bumrah and planning with Siraj
“With Bumrah not there, we had to step up. Siraj and I had our plans sorted. We kept communicating on how to go about it. That partnership between Brook and Smith was long, but we stayed patient. And once we got the breakthrough with the second new ball, we finished the job quickly.”
On expectations from the pitch and England’s conditions
“I had the idea that England’s wickets would assist pace. But recently, they’ve made more batting-friendly tracks. So we were mentally prepared for that challenge.”
On whether he’s thinking about Lord’s and Bumrah’s return
“I’m not thinking about Lord’s at the moment. We still have two days left in this game, and if I get to play, I’ll plan accordingly. Right now, the focus is to finish this game strong.”
Akash Deep may not be a permanent name in the XI yet, but on a flat Edgbaston pitch and under the weight of a 300-run stand, he bowled with purpose, clarity, and character. Today, he didn’t just fill a spot — he made a statement.
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