Veteran India spinner Anil Kumble heaps praises on Akash Deep for his sensational debut against England
Akash Deep had a dreamy debut to his Test career as he got the England team reeling at 57 for 3 after they elected to bat first in the 4th test. The black soil wicket at Ranchi looked dry and plagued with cracks which indicated that the ball could spin from the get-go on this track. But ti the contrary it had some movement and bounce initially because of the moisture on the surface and debutant made the most of it.
He got the wicket of Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Ollie Pope with his nagging length and sharp inswing deliveries. Akash Deep’s inswinging deliveries wreaked havoc in Ranchi as first he got the left-handed Duckett from a perfect outswinging delivery which shaped enough after pitching to get an edge to the wicketkeeper.
The Pope was sent back on a duck after he came out on a delivery that nipped back in and thudded onto his pads. The umpire adjudged him out not out but the review that India took showed that the ball was hitting the stumps bang-on.
Zak Crawley was Akash Deep’s next prey as he was undone by a delivery that jagged back in ferociously cutting Crawley into half and taking the stumps away with it. England were soon stranded at 112 for five but Root showcased his class and notched up his 31st test century to take England to 302 for 7 at the end of the day’s play.
Anil Kumble lauded Akash Deep on his impressive debut
Veteran Indian bowler heaps praise on Akash Deep for his sensational debut against England. While speaking during the lunch break at Jio Cinema, Kumble said, “The team management certainly got it spot on. When Bumrah wasn’t available for this game, there was an option to pick a fast bowler. India has always played two seamers in this series so far. Yes, we all thought the pitch was conducive, then maybe Axar Patel. But Akash has certainly bowled exceptionally well.”
He further added, “He bowled good lengths and most of the time, the length sort of got the better of the batter, that’s where they got beaten. On this surface, it is not easy for stroke play. That’s something England batters went searching for. But hats off to Akash. I thought he bowled exceptionally well for a debutant.”
