Watch: Virat Kohli can't stop laughing as Akash Deep almost fluffs simple stop in Kanpur Test
Published - 01 Oct 2024, 12:49 PM | Updated - 01 Oct 2024, 11:37 PM
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In a lighthearted moment on Day 5 of the ongoing second and final Test against Bangladesh, Indian pacer Akash Deep nearly fumbled a simple fielding chance, drawing laughter from his teammates, including Virat Kohli, at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
The incident unfolded in the 43rd over when Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bowled a tossed-up delivery around off-stump to Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim, who reverse swept it towards deep backward point.
Virat Kohli was amused by Akash Deep’s fielding blunder in the Kanpur Test
As the ball headed towards Akash, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant shouted, "Ghume ga (it will turn)" to alert him about the spin. Akash, reacting just in time, stretched out his left hand to prevent what could have been a costly misfield.
Despite the successful stop, the near-mishap prompted a burst of laughter from Kohli, who tried to hide his amusement by covering his face with his hand. However, Team India pacer Jasprit Bumrah got rid of Mushfiqur for 37 runs.
Watch here Kohli's reaction to Akash's near-mishap
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Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah struck a crucial blow just before the lunch break, clean-bowling Mushfiqur Rahim with a clever delivery at the Green Park. Surprisingly, Mushfiqur went for an aggressive shot off the final ball before lunch, and Bumrah's strategy paid off.
Jasprit Bumrah gets the better of Mushfiqur Rahim
Bumrah, instead of delivering his usual pace, opted for a slower off-cutter, which drifted in and sharply broke back. Mushfiqur, looking to clear the field with a lofted shot, stayed leg-side of the ball but misjudged the movement.
The ball sneaked past his inside edge and smashed into the middle stump, leaving the seasoned Bangladesh batter stunned. His valuable knock of 37 from 63 balls, which included seven boundaries, came to an abrupt end as Bumrah celebrated his timely breakthrough.
It was the 10th wicket for India, as Bangladesh bundles out for just 146 runs in their second innings, and now the hosts need only 95 runs to win the second and final game to clean sweep the home Test series.
For Team India, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Bumrah were the standout performers with the ball, with each taking three wickets against Bangladesh in the second innings in Kanpur. Well, with 62 overs remaining, India has more than enough time to chase down the target.
Akash Deep stunned everyone with his batting prowess
Earlier in the match, Akash showcased an impressive performance with the bat in the first inning against Bangladesh. He made a quick-fire contribution of 12 runs off just 5 balls, and what made his innings even more notable was the bat he used—a special gift from none other than Kohli.
He came to bat in the 35th over after India lost Ravindra Jadeja to Shakib al-Hasan. Despite starting with a dot ball, he wasted no time in making his mark. He launched the first ball he faced down the ground for a spectacular six, immediately setting the tone for his cameo.
He then followed up with another massive hit, this time soaring over deep mid-wicket, sending the ball even further than the first. The Indian dugout erupted with excitement with captain Rohit Sharma applauding the pacer's bold stroke play, while Kohli couldn't hide his delight, flashing a big smile as he watched his gifted bat fly through the air for those towering sixes.
