'We realised that the...' - Akash Deep opens up about the lower order's batting performance in Tests against England

In a match that swung like a pendulum, Akash Deep’s maiden Test fifty proved to be one of the defining moments of the fifth and final Test between India and England at The Oval. Coming in as a nightwatchman late on Day 2 after India lost two early wickets, Deep was given the assignment to survive the final overs against a fired-up English pace attack. But what began as a survival mission quickly turned into a counter-attacking masterclass.

Walking in with India at 70/2, Deep admitted later that the lower order hadn’t been contributing enough in previous games. Determined to change that narrative, he batted with grit, patience, and surprising flair. He stayed true to his word, bringing up his maiden Test half-century with a crisp cover drive, finishing on 66 off 94 deliveries with 12 boundaries.

“We realised that the lower-order was not contributing to the team (with the bat), and it becomes important because if we even score 15,20, or 30 runs towards the end, then chances are that the team becomes a top side in Test cricket. So, when I was sent out as a night watchman, all of this was on my mind, and I realised that it was an excellent opportunity to stay out there and do something for the team,” said Akash Deep in an interview with RevSportz.

Alongside opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, Deep put on a vital 107-run stand for the third wicket. This partnership not only erased England’s early advantage but also pushed India into a commanding position. By lunch on Day 3, India had reached 189/3, leading by 166 runs, a platform from which they could dictate terms.

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Akash Deep’s innings carried historical weight as well. He became the first Indian nightwatchman since Amit Mishra in 2011 to score a fifty at The Oval, and joined a rare group of players to have combined a 10-wicket haul in a series with a fifty on English soil. For a player still cementing his spot in the Test side, it was a statement performance.

Captain Shubman Gill later said that it was an impressive knock in one of the interviews, while head coach Gautam Gambhir’s broad smile in the dressing room summed up the team’s pride. Fans and pundits alike hailed it as one of the most impactful lower-order contributions in recent memory. Ultimately, India went on to clinch a nail-biting six-run victory, leveling the series 2-2. But many felt the turning point had come much earlier, when a determined nightwatchman decided he wouldn’t just protect his wicket, but seize the moment.