Watch: Akash Deep slogs Pat Cummins for a huge six, leaves Rohit and Kohli shocked

India’s no.11 batter Akash Deep shocked his teammates with his batting techniques on the fourth day of the Gabba Test against Australia.

India were 242/9 in 74 runs and needed another four runs to avoid follow-on.

Australian captain Pat Cummins stepped up to bowl the 75th over. The first delivery of the over hit the pads. The second delivery was short and wide of off-stump. Akash jumped and cut the ball to send it to third-man. With the boundary India managed to avoid the follow on. Akash defended the next delivery. Thee fourth delivery of the over was full and Akash swung his bat hard and sent the ball flying over deep mid-wicket for a huge six.   Indian players were following the proceedings from the dressing room and they were shocked to see Akash’s monstrous hit.

Akash Deep makes sure India avoid the follow-on and then smashes Pat Cummins into the second level!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/HIu86M7BNW

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2024

Bad light stopped the play a ball later and the umpires were forced to call Stumps to declare the end of play. Akash was unbeaten 27 along with Jasprit Bumrah who had scored 10.

Earlier, Ravindra Jadeja (77) and KL Rahul (84) led India’s fightback, but once they were dismissed, Jasprit Bumrah (10) and Akash Deep (27) helped push the total forward, with a heroic last wicket stand of 39 off 54 balls.

India, however, still trail by 193 runs.

For Australia, skipper Pat Cummins was the most successful bowler, taking four wickets for 80 runs, while Mitchell Starc claimed three for 83. Nathan Lyon (1/54) also picked up a wicket on a day when Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the match due to injury.

Jadeja kept India’s hopes alive with a sturdy innings, sharing a 53-run stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy (16), who was dismissed by Cummins in the post-lunch session, which was curtailed by a rain interruption lasting just over an hour.

Opener KL Rahul played a crucial role in India’s fightback, contributing a solid 84 as he and Jadeja added 67 runs.

Resuming the day at 51 for 4, India lost their captain Rohit Sharma (10) early, but Rahul stood firm at the other end, bringing up his 17th Test half-century off 85 balls.

The five-match series is currently tied at 1-1.

Brief Scores: Australia 1st Innings: 445 India 1st innings: 252 for 9 in 74.5 overs (KL Rahul 84; Ravindra Jadeja 77; Pat Cummins 4/80).

(With inputs from PTI)