Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes bowler Akash Deep deserved to earn the Player of the Match award in the Edgbaston Test. Although Shubman Gill played admirably, Mohammed Siraj was able to capture six wickets in the first innings thanks to Akash Deep’s skill with the ball, according to Ashwin.
Shubman Gill was declared as the Player of the Match due to his magnificent batting during the two innings. He made 269 in each of the innings making him the first Indian to have achieved the 430 runs mark in a single test match.
The visitors squared the series 1-1 thanks in large part to the Bengal pacer’s match haul of 10/187. Ashwin stated on his “Ash ki Baat” YouTube channel:
“This might be a big statement to make, but Akash Deep should have been awarded the Player of the match. Shubman Gill batted beautifully, no amount of praise would be enough. Gill has created history, records are there to be made and he’s re-written it, no doubt about it.”
Ravichandran Ashwin
“But all said and done, Akash Deep’s six-fer in the second innings and his four wickets in the first innings. Because of those four wickets, Siraj was able to get the six wickets in the first innings. Akash Deep was delivering the ball from different angles with the same wrist position. I don’t have a problem with the man of the match. I don’t buy the theory about heroes. In an IPL match, there are super fours, super sixes, super 12s, fastest delivery you give all these awards. You can give them in Tests as well, bowler of the match and batsman of the match.”
Ravichandran Ashwin
Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the second Test match by India, therefore the pacer was added to the squad. Later, after learning that his sister had cancer, he dedicated his performance to her.
Ravichandran Ashwin praises Akash Deep’s control, excited to see him bowl in helpful Lord’s conditions
Ravichandran Ashwin complimented bowler Akash Deep on the high percentage of errant shots he forced from English batters. If assistance is available on the Lord’s surface, the 38-year-old expressed his excitement to see how he and Jasprit Bumrah will bowl. He stated:
“Arshdeep Singh performs in the IPL, swings the ball in white-ball cricket but bear in mind that Akash Deep’s performances in first-class cricket. Look at his impact at Edgbaston. His impact is such that he has been able to generate a false shot percentage of 22.8%. He is defeating one in every five balls. In a sample size of 10 balls, he is creating two false shots. That is a lot.”
Ravichandran Ashwin
“In a 40-over span, he has obviously gone a higher economy rate, England have tried to take him on. England, all-in-all, are stuck. For the next Test match they will want some life in the pitch. When they have life in the pitch, I want to see them play Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah on how they are going to bat. This is serious, serious problems for England. This Test series is wide and open and I won’t be surprised if India go on to dominate the series from here on.”
Ravichandran Ashwin
