England’s Josh Tongue acknowledged the impact of India’s Akashdeep on Day 3 of the fifth Test at The Oval. Akashdeep, the night-watchman, played a significant role. His impressive innings on Day 2 saw him score 66 runs off 94 balls, including 12 boundaries, which caused significant disruption for England’s bowling unit.
Akashdeep’s batting not only boosted India’s score but also turned the game’s dynamics. England had expected his time at the crease to be brief, but he surprised everyone by forming a 107-run partnership with young Indian batter Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Tongue expressed the team’s frustration with Akashdeep’s performance during a post-match press conference. He revealed the primary goal was to get Akashdeep out quickly, and also discussed the team’s bowling strategy. This strategy aimed to counter India’s strong batting capabilities.
By achieving his first half-century in Test cricket, Akashdeep earned a place in a distinguished group. He is the fourth Indian player to achieve a Test fifty batting at number four. He also became the 12th player in history to score a half-century and claim a ten-wicket haul during an English tour.