England and India produced excessive drama on Day 2 of the Oval Test, with Akash Deep on the heart of the motion as he dismissed England opener Ben Duckett, sparking dialogue each on and off the sphere attributable to his putting send-off gesture.
Akash Deep sends again Ben Duckett on 43
After England’s bowlers, led by Gus Atkinson, restricted India to 224 of their first innings, England’s openers Duckett and Zak Crawley responded in aggressive vogue, rattling up a speedy 92-run stand earlier than lunch. Duckett, who regarded in elegant contact with a brisk 43 off 38 balls—together with 5 fours and two sixes—appeared poised to grab the benefit for England when Akash Deep, returning to the Indian XI for the decider, broke via with a vital wicket.
Duckett, consistently unsettling India’s strains with creative shotmaking, tried a reverse scoop off Akash Deep—a shot that had yielded runs earlier within the morning. This time, nevertheless, he solely managed a faint edge to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who accomplished the catch to offer India their first wicket of the day. The breakthrough second not solely ended Duckett’s threatening innings but additionally momentarily decreased England’s scoring tempo, offering some respite to the Indian bowlers.
But it surely was Akash Deep’s exuberant celebration that rapidly trended on social media and have become a speaking level. After securing Duckett’s wicket, Deep strode purposefully as much as the England opener, engaged in a quick animated change, after which put his arm round Duckett’s shoulder in what many interpreted as a pointed send-off. The gesture drew blended reactions on-line—some followers referred to as it pointless provocation, whereas others noticed it as aggressive spirit befitting the excessive stakes of a aggressive Take a look at collection.
KL Rahul, India’s senior participant, was fast to intervene and gently pulled Deep away from Duckett, deescalating any likelihood of additional confrontation. Duckett, for his half, maintained composure and didn’t react bodily, strolling again towards the pavilion as tempers cooled on the turf.
Right here’s the video:
A a lot wanted breakthrough for India 🔥
And a cheeky send-off for Ben Duckett 😜#SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings pic.twitter.com/9YaTjcEYOn
— Sony Sports activities Community (@SonySportsNetwk) August 1, 2025
Additionally READ: ENG vs IND – Here’s why England players are wearing head bands on Day 2 of Oval Test
Former cricketers name Akash Deep’s send-off pointless
Former England captain Michael Atherton and former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik felt the send-off was “pointless” and expressed their disapproval.
“He’s given Duckett a little bit of a send-off, which might be pointless, however it’s the wicket that India desperately wished. What number of instances did a bowler put his arm round after dismissing you, DK?,” stated Atherton on air.
“I’m undecided if that is the correct strategy to ship off a batter, particularly after you’ve acquired him out. Not many batsmen would behave the way in which Ben Duckett did, or moderately did. It regarded like they knew one another very well,” responded Karthik.
Additionally READ: ENG vs IND – Fans erupt after England’s Gus Atkinson runs riot as India falters on Day 2 at The Oval
