Akash Deep: India's silent sniper who deserved Edgbaston's crown

India Today

09-07-2025

In the iconic Bollywood film Sholay, when Kaalia and his two accomplices raid Ramgarh, Thakur Baldev Singh asks them to leave, warning of dire consequences. When the cocky dacoits ask who will stop them from extorting villagers, Thakur points at Jai and Veeru, the guns he has hired."Bas do (only two)," Kaalia smirks."Tumhare liye kaafi hain (enough for you)," Thakur snarls through clenched teeth.advertisement
This iconic exchange resonates deeply with India's historic 336-run victory at Edgbaston in July 2025, where the Indian cricket team faced a formidable challenge akin to stopping Gabbar Singh and his men in their own den.The Ramgarh of EdgbastonEdgbaston in July 2025 was cricket's Ramgarh—Gabbar's playground—where India had never won in eight previous Tests, its flat pitch as docile as the villagers ready to surrender before the dacoits.The track, devoid of grass or seam movement, offered perfect conditions for plundering runs.England's Bazballers-Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, and Jamie Smith-strode in with the swagger of Kaalia's accomplices, ready to feast on India's depleted bowling arsenal. Without Bumrah, India's premier pacer, the question loomed large: Who would stop these marauders? The answer, in Sholay's prophetic wisdom, was simple: "Just two." Akash and Siraj, India's guns, were enough.With very little support, these two conjured magic where none seemed possible. Akash Deep, like Jai, led the charge with his relentless accuracy, while Mohammad Siraj, the fiery counterpart reminiscent of Veeru, complemented him with raw aggression. Together, they claimed 17 of England's 20 wickets, knocking the English out in their own bastion.Like Veeru's boisterous bravado in Sholay, Siraj brought fire to the attack, claiming 7 wickets with his relentless pace and verbal sparring. His fiery spells, including key wickets like Zak Crawley and Ben Stokes, pushed England back in the first innings.The Silent SniperBut it was Akash Deep's 10/187-4/88 in the first innings and 6/99 in the second-that turned the tide, proving he was the linchpin of India's triumph. He dismantled key batsmen, including seven wickets from England's top order, with skiddy seamers and four bowled dismissals. His early strikes on Day 4, removing Duckett and Root, unsettled the enemy, ruling out an English victory. On Day 5, his dismissals of Pope and Brook in quick succession ensured England's hopes of a draw crumbled.Playing his first Test in England without prior county cricket experience, he adapted swiftly to alien conditions, exploiting minimal seam movement with relentless accuracy. He induced 61 false shots in 254 balls-one every 4.2 balls compared to the match average of 6.6-demonstrating his ability to create chances where none existed.
Akash Deep skidded through England with ruthless precision (Reuters Photo)
His heroics are amplified by the immense pressure he faced. Stepping in Jasprit Bumrah's shoes, he carried few expectations but the burden of past failures at Edgbaston. Critics questioned the decision to rest Bumrah, but he silenced them with a performance that rivaled India's best.The Real HeroBeyond the numbers, Akash Deep's performance was imbued with profound personal significance. He revealed post-match that he played with the knowledge that his elder sister was battling cancer, dedicating his heroics to her. "Her face was in my mind with every delivery," he said, fueling his relentless drive. This personal hardship, coupled with the professional challenge of leading without Bumrah, elevated his effort beyond mere cricketing excellence.While Shubman Gill's 430 runs set up India's commanding total of 587 and a target of 608, the match's outcome hinged on bowling England out. Gill's runs were crucial on a placid track, but they came when the ball had lost its shine, the sun was shining, and England's bowling-already depleted by retirements and injuries-was tired.advertisementEngland's resilient first innings of 407, despite benign conditions once the ball aged, showed they could counter India's batting might. It was Akash Deep's wickets, alongside Siraj's fiery contribution, that ensured England collapsed to 271 in their second innings. His performance shifted the narrative, proving that bowlers, often overshadowed by batters in modern cricket, can be the true game-changers.Akash Deep was the real hero of the Edgbaston Test in July 2025, not because he outscored others but because he outfought them. His relentless bowling, emotional resilience, and ability to rise above personal and professional challenges make a compelling case for him as the true Player of the Match.Though the Player of the Match award eluded Akash Deep, his Edgbaston heroics will echo through cricketing lore, much like Jai's silent valour in Sholay.India's triumph will forever bear Akash Deep's mark. In Ramgarh's dust or Edgbaston's green, heroes like Akash Deep remind us that two can indeed be enough.- EndsYou May Also Like