'Akash Deep cheated...': India selector drops bombshell on Joe Root's controversial dismissal in 2nd Test

Former India selector Saba Karim lauded Akash Deep for his dismissal of England batter Joe Root during the final innings of the second Test at Edgbaston. The cricketer-turned-commentator said that Akash “cheated” Root by forcing the England batter to think that the ball would come in after pitching.

India declared their second innings at 427 for 6 earlier on Day 4. England were asked to chase a target of 608 runs. In response, England lost three wickets for 72 runs by stumps. Akash Deep beat Root’s outside edge to rattle the off stump. Root was dismissed after scoring just 6 runs off 16 deliveries.

Akash Deep Was Talking About Feeling Cheated… - Saba Karim

During a panel discussion on Sony Sports, Saba Karim stated that Akash Deep delivered the ball from wide of the crease, angling it in, but it straightened after pitching and hit the stumps.

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"Akash Deep was talking about feeling cheated by the wicket as it was like an Indian wicket, but here he cheated Joe Root. When you are angling the ball in from wide of the crease, the batter is forced to think that the ball will come in only from that angle," Saba responded.

99.9 Percent of Batters Would Have Played That Shot - Saba Karim on Joe Root’s Dismissal

The former selector described Akash Deep’s delivery to dismiss Joe Root as virtually unplayable. He added that even top-class batters would likely have made the same mistake as Root.

"If the ball straightens after pitching, what can the batter do? If you bowl such a ball to a great batter, it was definitely an unplayable delivery. Not only Joe Root, but 99.9 percent of the batters would have played like that towards the onside. Joe Root also tried that, and Akash Deep literally opened up Joe Root," Saba observed.

You Feel the Ball Will Come In Only From That Angle - Hemang Badani

During the same discussion, former India batter Hemang Badani said that Akash used the width of the crease effectively. He added that any batter in Root’s position would have expected the ball to come in from that angle and would have been similarly deceived.

"It was an excellent ball. He got completely beaten. He created an angle. He went wide off the crease, even touched the side line, created such a big angle, and then made the ball go straight from there. As a batter, you feel the ball will come in only from that angle," Badani said.

The Indian bowlers made an immediate impact after declaring their innings on Day 4 of the second Test. Mohammed Siraj struck first, removing Zak Crawley for a duck, with substitute fielder Sai Sudharsan taking the catch.

Akash then took two key wickets to put India in a dominant position. He dismissed Ben Duckett for 25 before removing Joe Root. By the end of the day, England were struggling at 72 for 3. Akash returned with figures of 2 for 36 from eight overs, while Siraj finished with 1 for 29 from five overs.

Also read: Morne Morkel throws open challenge to Harry Brook's England from Press Conference