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"Not Always...": Akash Deep Reveals Exact Words He Told Ben Duckett During Oval Send-Off

Soumyajit Dutta

Akash Deep clears air on Ben Duckett send-off [Source: @akash.deep969/Instagram.com]Akash Deep clears air on Ben Duckett send-off [Source: @akash.deep969/Instagram.com]

During Day 2 of the fifth Test at The Oval, tensions flared between Ben Duckett and Akash Deep. After dismissing Duckett, the Indian pacer delivered a cold yet low-blow send-off to the Bazball star.

The send-off didn’t go down well with the crowd, who booed, while critics also reprimanded the gesture, saying it was beyond cricket’s spirit. Later, Akash Deep admitted what led him to give such a send-off and, in a recent interaction, revealed exactly what he told Duckett at that moment.

Akash Deep Admits Retorting Duckett

After Duckett was dismissed by Akash Deep in the first innings, edging to keeper Dhruv Jurel, the pacer walked up close, wrapped his right hand over Duckett’s shoulder, and whispered something in his ear as the batter made his way back to the pavilion. Speaking to RevSportz in an exclusive interview with Boria Majumdar, Deep shared the exact words he spoke.

“You miss, I hit. Not always will you win. This time, I win," Deep told Revsportz.

The Indian pacer then elaborated on how Duckett’s actions provoked such a heated send-off.

“I have always fancied my chances against the left-handers, and he is no different. On that day, he was trying to throw me off my line and length and had played a number of unconventional shots. That’s when he said to me that it was his day and I will not be able to get him out,” Deep said.

Deep On Duckett's Crucial Wicket

Akash Deep also explained how India devised their fightback against England, as Ben Duckett, who scored 43 in the first innings, was looking dangerous while England was trailing India's total.

“The truth is, if a batter moves around the pitch and plays these shots, your line and length does get impacted, for you don’t really know what he will do next. That’s what was happening. Also, England were off to a quick start and we needed a wicket. We were defending a modest score and wickets were critical,” Deep added.

Nevertheless, after the 2-2 series draw, Akash Deep rested the controversy and downplayed any negative interpretation of the send-off, clarifying that “it was all done in good spirit” and not out of any personal hatred.