Team India pacer Akash Deep has opened up about his rescue act with the bat that saved the team from the follow-on in the third Border-Gavaskar series Test at The Gabba in Brisbane. He struck 31 runs off 44 deliveries to steer the visitors to safety, and helped them earn a draw to keep the series at 1-1.
After conceding 445 in the first innings, India were reduced to 213-9 when Akash Deep came out to bat. Amid the rain threat, Australia’s best chance to win was to make India bat again, which was only possible via the follow-on. India were desperately trying to avoid such a situation, and were bolstered after Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah stitched together 47 runs for the final wicket.
The Men in Blue finished with 260, meaning that Australia had to come out to bat again. This took valuable time out of the game as rain ended up having the final say on Day 5.
The tail-ender’s boundary to third man to seal India’s safety was met with wild cheers from the dressing room. He followed that up with a mammoth six off Pat Cummins, which was quite a statement heading into the business end of the tour.
Akash Deep had to settle for a place on the bench in the first two Tests despite an impressive home season. The right-arm pacer had to wait for his opportunity as the management preferred Harshit Rana as the third seamer in Perth and Adelaide.
Akash Deep made a strong impression in Brisbane. He tested the batters with his fuller length deliveries, and his ability to get the ball to skid through. He toiled hard to pick up three wickets in the contest.
The fourth Test between India and Australia is scheduled to begin from December 26 onwards at the MCG.
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