IND vs ENG: 'He cheated Joe Root' - Ex-India cricketer on Akash Deep's sensational delivery during Edgbaston Test

Akash Deep delivered a sensational performance in second Test against England. (Photo: X)

Fast bowler Akash Deep delivered a fiery performance in the second Test between India and England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. He claimed four wickets in the first innings and continued to impress on Day 4, playing a crucial role in putting India on the brink of a historic Test victory at the venue.

Prior to the match, Akash had expected the English conditions to favour fast bowlers. However, he later admitted feeling disappointed, saying the pitches felt more like those in India, offering little support for pace bowling.

In a standout moment during England’s second innings, Akash dismissed star batter Joe Root with a brilliant delivery late on Day 4. Former India cricketer and ex-national selector Saba Karim remarked that Akash "cheated" Root with the sheer quality of the ball, praising it as an absolute gem.

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"Akash Deep was talking about feeling cheated by the wicket as it was like an Indian wicket, but here he cheated Joe Root. When you are angling the ball in from wide of the crease, the batter is forced to think that the ball will come in only from that angle," Karim responded during an interaction on Sony Sports.

Karim also noted that there was little Joe Root could have done differently, as the delivery was virtually unplayable. He added that most batters in Root’s position would have attempted to play it towards the on-side, just as he did.

"If the ball straightens after pitching, what can the batter do? If you bowl such a ball to a great batter, it was definitely an unplayable delivery. Not only Joe Root, but 99.9 percent of the batters would have played like that towards the onside. Joe Root also tried that, and Akash Deep literally opened up Joe Root," Saba observed.