Nightwatchman to nightmare: How Akash Deep crushed England’s spirit!

India may have found an unlikely hero in the Oval Test, and his name is Akash Deep. Before this innings, the fast bowler’s highest first-class score was an unbeaten 53. In addition, in 11 of his 14 previous Test innings, he hadn’t even reached double figures. And across the series leading into this innings, he'd scored just 14 runs in total across four innings.

Yet, when he walked in as a nightwatchman in the second innings of the Oval Test, no one, not even England, expected him to mount what would become a gritty, game-altering knock of 66.What made the innings more incredible was the timing.

India were still under pressure, the pitch was still tricky, and the team desperately needed someone to bat time. And then came Akash Deep. From out of syllabus, as fans are calling it online, he batted with surprising fluency and resilience, rattling England’s plans and forming a match-defining 107-run partnership with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.

While Jaiswal brought up yet another century, it was arguably Akash Deep’s runs that did more damage to England’s morale. The nightwatchman’s assault wasn’t just unexpected, it was also historic. He became only the second Indian nightwatchman this millennium to score a Test fifty, the first being Amit Mishra, who scored 84 at the very same venue, The Oval, back in 2011.

Even more telling: Sai Sudharsan, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Karun Nair could not combine to match his 66. The four of them together made 46. That comparison alone puts Akash Deep’s knock into perspective.

He may not have been the most impactful with the ball in the first innings, but with the bat, he made up for it and then some. His contribution might just be the difference between India levelling the series 2-2 and handing it away 1-3.For now, one thing’s certain, Akash Deep’s unexpected fifty will be remembered not just for the runs but for the kind of impact it could have on the outcome of this series.

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