Overview:
Akash finally got the better of Ben Duckett, but it was his reaction that caught everyone’s attention. After dismissing the England opener, Akash Deep celebrated aggressively before placing a hand on Duckett's shoulder.
Akash Deep opened up on the send-off he gave to Ben Duckett during the Oval Test in the England vs India series. Duckett’s hitting has taken England to 92 in just 13 overs during their first innings.
Akash finally got the better of Ben Duckett, but it was his reaction that caught everyone’s attention. After dismissing the England opener, Akash Deep celebrated aggressively before placing a hand on Duckett’s shoulder to exchange a few words. KL Rahul quickly intervened, pulling Akash away, and the umpire also got involved. In an interview with RevSportz, Akash shared that Duckett was attempting to disturb his rhythm.
“I have a good record against Duckett and have dismissed him a few times. I’ve always backed myself against left-handers, and he’s no exception. On that particular day, he was trying to disrupt my line and length with some unorthodox shots. That’s when he told me it was his day and that I wouldn’t be able to get him out,” Akash said.
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“The reality is, when a batter moves around the crease and plays unconventional shots, it does affect your line and length because you can’t predict what they’ll do next. That’s exactly what was happening. On top of that, England had gotten off to a fast start, and we desperately needed a wicket.”
Akash went on to explain the conversation he had with Duckett, telling him that the outcome of their battles wouldn’t always favour him. He clarified that it was all in good fun. Later, Akash scored his first-ever fifty in the match by sharing another hug with Duckett.
“We were defending a modest total, so every wicket was crucial. When I got him out (smiles), I told him, ‘You miss, I hit. You won’t always win’. It was just a reply to what he had been saying to me, and it was all in good fun,” Akash added.