Watch: At Ranchi, debutant Akash Deep slog-swept Shoaib Bashir for the first six of his international career.
Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.
Bengal seamer Akash Deep had rocked England in the first morning of his Test career. He had Ben Duckett caught behind and Ollie Pope leg before in the space of two balls. He then bowled Zak Crawley, whom he had bowled earlier off a no-ball, to reduce England to 53-3.
England rode on Joe Root’s 122 to recover to 353 as Akash, whose rise to a Test player is an inspirational saga, finished with 3-83 and Ravindra Jadeja with 4-67.
India became 177-7 in response before Dhruv Jurel, playing in his second Test match, began a rearguard act. He found support in Kuldeep Yadav (28), who helped Jurel put on 76 for the eighth wicket to reduce India’s deficit to two digits.
Akash walked out at this point, and stayed put for 29 balls for his nine runs as the ninth-wicket stand put on 40. Six of these runs came in one blow, when Shoaib Bashir tossed one up on off stump, and the ball landed in the slot for a slog-sweep. Akash responded by using his fast bowler’s muscles to send the ball flying over deep mid-wicket.
Deep is known for his big-hitting abilities and has a first-class half-century to his name, which came off just 18 balls, in the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy quarterfinal between Bengal and Jharkhand.
Bashir (5-119) had his revenge when he trapped Akash leg-before soon after. Jurel (90) added another 14 for the last wicket with Mohammad Siraj before Tom Hartley (3-68) bowled him.
India were bowled out for 307 to concede a first-innings lead of 46. Lunch was taken on the third day at that point.
