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Akash Deep's 10-wicket match-haul sets up famous win for India

By The Capital

On 07 Jul 2025 11:51:28

Akash Deep's 10-wicket match-haul sets up famous win for India

Birmingham, Jul 6 (PTI) An unheralded Akash Deep, hailing from Bihar's Sasaram, owned the big stage like never before in the absence of an iconic Jasprit Bumrah as Shubman Gill's young India's broke 58-year-old 'Edgbaston Jinx' thrashing England by 336 runs to level the five-Test series 1-1. The 28-year-old Akash Deep took a match-haul of 10 wickets, including his maiden five-for -- 6/99 in England second innings with the hosts getting all-out for 271 in pursuit of an improbable 608. If Gill, with his magnificent batting (269 and 161) set it up, Akash deserves equal credit for his lion-hearted effort on a track which was primarily a bowler's graveyard.

The rain delayed the start of the day by an hour and 40 minutes, reducing the day’s quota of overs to 80 with England resuming their second innings at 72 for three chasing a near impossible 608.

If Mohammed Siraj (7 wickets and catches) bowled like the leader of the attack in the first innings, Akash Deep built on his first innings gains to strike twice with new ball early on day five.

Once not having enough opportunities in a non-descript town in Bihar, the journey hasn't been a bed of roses for the son of a government school teacher, who would survive on pocket money earned by playing tennis ball cricket before scouts in Bengal saw his potential and fast tracked him into the age-group system seven years back. He played his debut first-class game for Bengal during Christmas in 2019.

In less than six years, his sharp incutters from length that fooled Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook didn't let his skipper miss the peerless Bumrah.

Akash came into the tour knowing that his sister is suffering from cancer and he felt that everytime, he sprinted towards the pitch, the visions of his ailing sister crossed his mind.

For England, Jamie Smith (88) fought a lonely battle before being dismissed by a slow bouncer from Akash, giving the medium pacer his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Fittingly, Akash got the final wicket of the game to complete a match haul of 10/187.

The other star performer, Gill, pouched the catch at cover, leading to an animated celebration of his first success as Test captain. England also felt the pressure from Indian spinners duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who got the ball to drift and straighten.

After losing the series opener at Leeds from an ‘unlosable’ position, Gill-led India made an admirable comeback at the back of the captain’s record breaking 430 runs in the match and the showing of Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj, who both got the new ball to talk on a flat surface.

In Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, not much was expected from the Indian pace attack but Siraj and Akash Deep changed the perception with match turning spells in either innings.

The Edgbaston authorities had slashed the ticket prices for the final from a minimum of GBP 90 to 25. For the first time in the game, the Indians outnumbered the England supporters and eventually got their money’s worth.

The third Test begins at Lord’s in four days’ time and India seem to have most bases covered with bowlers complementing the batters here. Bumrah will be back and Akash Deep, who attacks the stumps from good length, would be looking forward to run in down the hill from the Pavillion End at the iconic Lord’s.