Akash Deep’s Big Moment
India was playing England in the fifth Test match at The Oval. Overnight, India had a tiny lead and lost two quick wickets, so 28-year-old seamer Akash Deep was sent in as a “nightwatchman”—basically a bowler who comes in to bat at the end of a session to protect the top order.
Instead of just blocking balls till lunch, Akash Deep played like a top-order batter—he put away loose deliveries and made confident shots. He and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal added 107 runs together by the lunch break, giving India a comfortable lead of 166 runs.
Akash made his first-ever Test fifty in style—around 70 balls in, he flicked a boundary through square leg and pumped his fist in celebration.
He eventually fell for 66 runs, his career-high score, ending the innings at 189 for 3 just before lunch.
Reuters
🤯 Why Everyone Was Surprised
He’s not a batter. Traditionally, nightwatchmen bat at No. 8 or 9 and just survive; hitting 66 and a fifty named him the first Indian nightwatchman to do that in England since Amit Mishra in 2011.
He took real initiative: when England dropped a catch off his name, he seized momentum; when the ball came loose, he punished it. That helped change the tone of the innings.
Inside the Indian dressing room, emotions ran high. Coach Gautam Gambhir even cracked a genuine smile, which is rare during a tense Test match. Captain Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja celebrated openly when Deep reached fifty. Teammates applauded when he walked off.
📊 What This Means For India
Before Deep came in, England’s plan was to use the short ball to finish off India cheaply. But that 107-run partnership with Jaiswal shifted momentum completely. Suddenly England’s bowlers—with key men like Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes injured—looked toothless. India moved into a strong commanding position in the crucial series-deciding Test.
In short: a bowler who thought he’d bat a few overs ended up turning the match in India’s favor. Fans and experts called it one of the most memorable tail‑end batting performances in modern Test cricket.
🏁 Bottom Line
Akash Deep’s first Test fifty came when no one expected it—and it changed the game.
That 66-run innings helped bury England’s confidence in the morning session and gave India a solid 166-run lead at lunch.
For cricket lovers, it was a reminder that sometimes the least likely person can become the biggest impact player.
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