You know how sometimes, a shy person walks into a party and, by the end of the evening, everyone is nearly in awe of them? That is Akash Deep right now in Test cricket. In a match that showcased star-studded names and also huge moments, this somewhat unassumingly pacer changed heads with a spell that excited with class, control, and craft. In the second Test between India and England at Edgbaston, the match was about more than just scoreboard pressure or a big total; there were also a few exceptionally subtle spells that turned the match in their head.
Bowling Smart, Not Just Fast: What Makes His Length Lethal
Wickets in Test cricket don’t just come from speed. If anything, on flatter tracks—such as at Edgbaston—you need brains more than brawn. This is where Akash Deep comes into play. He may not be the tallest or flashiest player on the field, but his length control is surgical.
People rave about how he maintains that magical 6-meter length – just short enough to keep the batters on edge, but full enough to threaten them on the stumps. What’s crazy is how that same length functions differently in his hands. Where someone like Prasidh Krishna would hit the thigh pad, Akash Deep hits the top off. That little difference? Changes everything. It’s the same reason the ball hurries onto the batter; it denies any forward press or confident drive. It’s how he can nip openers in the first couple of overs even on docile pitches. He essentially makes average conditions wicket-taking conditions.
The Joe Root Delivery: A Test Bowler’s Signature Moment
Every bowler has that “one.” The one ball, where everyone watching — fans, pundits, even the batter — can’t help but say, yep, this guy is a bowler.
Here’s where it gets good — he goes wide of the crease, angles it in like he is going to trap the batter LBW, and then, honestly, it just straightened. Joe Root, one of the best batters of his generation, is caught in that no-man’s land where neither his footwork nor his reputation can save him. It was the type of delivery, you know, you hit the replay pause button on, call your buddy, and say, “Did you see that?”
Even the one to Ben Duckett – the first one around the wicket – wasn’t too far behind. It struck Duckett’s back pad and flew to the keeper. Sure, no wicket, but you saw the wheels turning and the plans forming. The best bowlers don’t bowl, they plot. And Akash Deep plots.
Built Different: How India’s Fast Bowling Trio is Redefining Away Tours
This is the exciting part. Akash Deep is not working alone. Consider, if you’re a young quick, you are now sharing the new ball with Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah. This is not just pressure; this is potential on turbo. And Akash Deep deserves credit because he is not just going along for the ride.
While Bumrah brings unorthodox angles and Siraj thrives on raw aggression, Akash Deep offers old-school seam discipline with a modern twist. He doesn’t overpitch. He doesn’t give freebies. And perhaps most importantly, he doesn’t look overawed. That calm temperament combined with his ability to adapt mid-spell (switching from over to around the wicket, varying crease positions) makes him a captain’s dream in red-ball cricket.
He doesn’t just swing the ball; he swings the narrative. So, here’s the question: Is India quietly building the deadliest pace unit in Test cricket, one Deep delivery at a time?
Let us know in the comments—what impressed you the most about Akash Deep’s spell?
For more, visit JeetBuzz News to read our quality Cricket Blog updates. Explore if you want to reminisce and enjoy all of your favourite cricket players and nostalgic match moments. To ensure that you never miss out, keep updated and join in the fun!
