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Akash Deep, who made his Test debut on Friday, was in sensational form in the first session of Day 1 as India rocked England from the word go, in Ranchi. The hosts currently lead 2-1 and victory in the fourth Test will see them take a series-clinching victory.
He could have got his first wicket in the fourth over himself, but a no-ball ruled him out. He responded in style in the tenth, eliminating Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope. He then struck once again in the 12th over, taking the key wicket of Zak Crawley.
Speaking after the first session. Indian legend Anil Kumble praised the 27-year-old and was impressed with Rahul Dravid’s selection strategy. Kumble, part of the broadcaster’s match centre, said: “The team management certainly got it right. When Bumrah was not available for this game, there was an option to pick the fast bowler. India have always played with two seamers in this series until now.”Yes, we all thought the pitch was conducive, so maybe Axar Patel. But Akash has certainly bowled exceptionally well. He doesn’t throw much faster and he did it in really good areas. He bowled good lengths and most of the time, the length somehow overtook the batsman, that’s where they were beaten.”
“On this surface, it’s not easy to play strokeplay. That’s something the English batsmen were looking for. But I take my hat off to Akash.
“I think he played exceptionally well for a debutant,” he added.
In the fourth over, he sent a wonderful long delivery to Crawley, who backed away. The ball went over Crawley’s inside edge and hit the off stump. The debutant jumped for joy, but it didn’t last long as the siren sounded indicating no-ball.
But he kept his composure and got his first wicket in the 10th over and this time it was a legal delivery. He sent a long delivery, which Ben Duckett (11) edged for a simple catch off Dhruv Jurel.
He then removed Ollie Pope (0) in the same over, hitting him head-on. For his third wicket, he sent Crawley (42) back to the pavilion in the 12th over. After the first session, England were left reeling at 112/5 in 24.1 overs.