India's nightwatchman Akash Deep scored his maiden half-century while Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 85 as India reached 189 for three at lunch on Day 3 of the final Test against England in London on Saturday. The duo shared a 107-run partnership off 150 balls, strengthening India's position after resuming at 75 for two.
Akash Deep, who started the day on four, scored 66 runs off 94 balls before Jamie Overton dismissed him with a short ball targeting his rib cage, resulting in an easy catch for Gus Atkinson at point.
Akash Deep, who previously had only one first-class fifty, displayed his aggressive intent from the first over, hitting a boundary over mid-wicket off Jacob Bethell's bowling.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!His attacking approach continued against the fast bowlers, particularly targeting Atkinson. He reached his fifty with a powerful slog shot, earning appreciation from the Indian dressing room.
The fast bowler received a lot of praise for his feisty knock.
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Bahut time se humare aapas mein banter chalta rehta hai... batsmen bolte rehte hain ki neeche waale bowlers ko thoda karo yaar, thoda contribute karo yaar (There’s been ongoing banter in the dressing room, where batters keep telling lower-order bowlers to contribute with the bat).
I think aaj ke match mein unhone puri kasar nikaal di (I think today he settled all that talk)," said captain Shubman Gill on BCCI.tv.
Senior India batter KL Rahul revealed his advice to Akash Deep before the start of Day 3.
"Most of the chatter is always about the bowlers trying to steal our bats," said Rahul.
"This morning, I had a brief chat with him and told him to think like a batter and not throw his wicket away. The advice was to relax and make as many runs as he could. Enjoy himself, play his shots but also be responsible — and I think he did all of that," he said.
Akash’s bowling partner Prasidh Krishna explained the importance of his knock in this Test.
"I think it was huge for Akash," said Prasidh. "It was really important for us — the runs he scored and the time he spent at the crease."
Team India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak shared the lift conversation the duo had after the end of Day 2.
"Yesterday, we were in the lift when we reached the hotel.
Toh maine usko bola, 'Akash, agar kal tujhe range mein mile na, toh maar dena' (I told him, if the ball is in your range tomorrow, go for it). '
Compulsory defence mat karna, kyunki pichhli do innings mein tu defence karke hi out hua' (Don’t go for forced defence, because you got out defending in your last two innings)."
"So happy to see a fast bowler scoring an important fifty for us," Kotak added.
Captain Gill also narrated his morning chat with his nightwatchman.
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Aaj subah jab wo batting ke liye gaya, humne usko ek hi cheez boli thi — jo tere radar mein ball hogi, tu run banana dekhna (This morning, before he went out to bat, I told him — if the ball is in your radar, look to score)," said Gill.
Meanwhile, Akash revealed what was going through his mind.
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Kal raat jab main sone gaya, tabhi mera mindset tha ki mujhe out nahi hona hai. Ball mujhe out kar de, wo alag baat hai, but mujhe out nahi hona hai. Ball body pe lage, chahe kahin lage — mujhe khelna hai (Last night when I went to bed, my mindset was that I won’t get out. If the ball gets me, fine, but I won’t throw my wicket. Even if it hits my body, I will stay and play)," he shared.
"The 100-run partnership with Jaiswal was special for me. The fifty was also special, but those two hours I batted for my team were more special," he said.
His batting partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal, said: "I think it was just wonderful the way he batted. We were having a good chat in the middle. I hope he keeps doing this for us in the future."
The biggest compliment for Akash came from captain Gill, who said: "I think those 66 runs are no less than a century."
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