Moments of resilience often define a player’s career in the high-stakes arena of Test cricket. It has been bowling, however that Akash Deep is recognized primarily, and it was commendable grit with the bat for him in India’s third Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane recently as India faced a formidable total from the Australians of 445.
The follow-on rule, a tactical tool in Test cricket, permits the team that batted first to enforce the opposing team to bat again immediately if they are leading by a significant margin. It would thereby expedite their own way to win the game.
Therefore, India had to reach a minimum of 246 runs in their first innings so that they could not face this situation. As wickets fell and the prospect of following on threatened to engulf, Akash Deep joined Jasprit Bumrah, who had come in at the tail-end.
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And with both showing dogged resistance to the intense bowling, the Australians were just able to deny them their way towards getting closer to that all-important mark of 246 runs. It paid off, though; India was able to avoid a follow-on, a thing which not only boosts team morale but also provides strategic advantage in the match.
Akash Deep’s contribution in this regard is remarkable. Although he is essentially a bowler for the team, with a first-class batting average of 12.7 and a top score of 53, his potential to deliver under pressure speaks of the value of being a lower-order batsman who can score crucial runs at times.
This performance not just reflects the multifaceted nature of Akash Deep but the mental strength that he possesses amidst pressure situations. Such spectacles are much needed in Test matches where the whole game tends to be influenced by the activities of each individual, irrespective of their main domain.