On Day 2 of the 5th India-England Test at The Oval, Akash Deep playfully got the better of England opener Ben Duckett after dismissing him. The two engaged in some friendly banter during the first session, with Duckett teasing Akash Deep by saying, “You cannot get me out in here.
Although Akash Deep stayed silent, Duckett responded with a stylish reverse ramp shot that thrilled the English crowd. However, Akash Deep quickly turned the tables, bowling a series of deliveries that troubled Duckett, ultimately trapping him caught behind for 43 runs off 38 balls, which included five fours and two sixes.
Intense Rivalry and Sportsmanship Mark England-India Series at The Oval
During the celebration, Akash pumped his fist in front of Duckett, then put his arm around the opener’s shoulder, smiling and exchanging a few words. The video of this friendly exchange quickly went viral. Interestingly, on Day 3, Akash Deep was again seen putting his hand around Duckett’s shoulder—this time when Akash Deep was batting and Duckett was fielding for England—and the moment appeared amicable.
This series has been filled with intense moments where both teams tried to get under each other’s skin with sledging and heated exchanges. From Shubman Gill’s outburst against Zak Crawley-Duckett at Lord’s over time wasting, to England skipper Ben Stokes and his team’s frustration in Manchester after India refused an early draw favoring centuries by Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, as well as the heated argument between Indian coach Gautam Gambhir and The Oval pitch curator Lee Fortis, emotions have run high on both sides.
At The Oval Test, England’s stand-in captain Ollie Pope won the toss and invited India to bat first. England bowled India out for 224 and then posted 247, gaining a first-innings lead of 23 runs. However, the Shubman Gill-led Indian side bounced back strongly in their second innings with a promising batting performance.