'He’s watching from mid-on as his junior partners are...' Shubman Gill's bold call raises Ravi Shastri's eyebrows, but Akash Deep proves former India coach wrong

Having done all the hard work, Team India is now seeking to put an exclamation point on the 2nd Test. They are just four wickets away from scripting a famous win at Edgbaston against England. With considerable time left on Day 5, one would expect Indian bowlers to get the job done. However, the unpredictable weather in Birmingham can thwart India from going 1-1 in the series. The rain did have a say in the morning, because of which the start was delayed and an hour of play was wasted. Nevertheless, bowlers especially Akash Deep did not take time in pouncing authority over the English batters. Deep struck early and sent both Ollie Pope and Harry Brook back home. In the process, he proved former India head coach Ravi Shastri wrong.

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Akash Deep proves Ravi Shastri wrong

While doing his duty as a broadcaster, Ravi Shastri expressed astonishment when Mohammed Siraj was not put into attack straightaway. According to Shastri, being the bowler with the most wickets in this match, Siraj deserved to bowl from the outset. Siraj was made to wait as India captain Shubman Gill entrusted Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep to begin the proceedings for India with the ball on Day 5.

“Mohammed Siraj, six in the first innings, one in the second. He’s watching from mid-on as his junior partners are bowling. He’d be hoping they strike, otherwise, he would be itching to get the ball.”

While the move did not make sense to Shastri, Akash Deep gave him no reason to further doubt. Deep’s twin strike early in the session put England in deep trouble.

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Stokes-Smith tries to resurrect but Washy breaks the stand

After the dismissal of Pope and Brook, England captain Ben Stokes and first-innings hero Jamie Smith put in a cautious 70-run stand. The partnership for the 6th wicket took the hosts past the 150-run mark but the relief was short-lived. Just at the stroke of lunch, Washington Sunday got Ben Stokes plumb in front. With Stokes’ wicket, England’s chances of survival have further dwindled. They cannot win as the target of 608 is beyond reach. Thus, India are in the driver’s seat and require just four more wickets to open their account in the 5-match series.