During the fifth Test between India and England, bowler Akash Deep’s dismissal of Ben Duckett became a talking point after his animated send-off raised eyebrows among commentators and fans alike.
The Controversial Send-Off
Akash Deep, who had just broken a strong opening partnership, celebrated Ben Duckett’s dismissal with an unusual gesture. After getting Duckett caught behind, Deep punched the air, then put his arm around the English batter’s shoulder, walking a few steps with him.
The two players briefly exchanged words during this interaction. India’s KL Rahul quickly stepped in to pull Deep away from the departing batsman. Following the incident, umpire Ahsan Raza also had a word with Akash Deep, and teammate Shardul Thakur was seen chatting with him on the boundary later.
Expert Reactions and Praise for Duckett
On-air commentators were quick to react to the unusual display. Mike Atherton remarked that it was “probably unnecessary” but acknowledged it was a crucial wicket for India.
Dinesh Karthik openly disapproved, stating, “Not sure if this is the right way to send off a batter especially after you’ve got him out.” Karthik also praised Duckett’s calm demeanor, noting that “not many batsmen would behave the way Ben Duckett” did.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting echoed this sentiment, expressing his admiration for Duckett’s composure. “I love the way Ben Duckett plays his cricket, I think I like him even more now!” Ponting said.
Interestingly, Karthik later speculated that the interaction might have been a friendly chat, suggesting the pair could know each other well. England’s batting coach, Marcus Trescothick, was also seen jokingly indicating that Duckett should have elbowed Deep as he walked off.
Tensions Beyond One Incident
The Duckett send-off was not an isolated event in what has been a series marked by heated moments. India leads the five-Test series 2-1, and competitive fire has often flared between the two sides.
Another notable incident saw Joe Root and Prasidh Krishna engage in a lengthy verbal exchange. The pair were seen speaking intensely to each other as Root completed a run, followed by a steely stare from Krishna in his next over. Umpires again had to intervene and speak with Krishna.
Mutual Respect Amidst Competition
Despite these on-field spats, many players from both teams share a bond, often having played together in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Before the match, India’s Shubman Gill commented on the dynamic, saying, “The relation is fantastic, but when you are on the field, you are trying to win a game at the end of the day, and both the teams have been very competitive.” He added that while heat-of-the-moment actions might occur, “once the match is over, there is mutual respect between both teams.”
- Akash Deep’s send-off to Ben Duckett included an arm around the shoulder and an exchange of words.
- Commentators largely disapproved of Deep’s actions but praised Duckett’s calm response.
- The incident was one of several heated exchanges in a competitive India-England Test series.
- Players maintain that mutual respect exists off the field, despite on-field intensity.
The series continues to deliver captivating cricket, demonstrating that while the competition is fierce, the spirit of the game ultimately prevails.
