ENG vs IND 2025: 'They couldn't have asked anything more from him' - Dinesh Karthik extols Akash Deep after batting heroics at The Oval

Akash Deep scored his maiden international half-century in India's second innings of the fifth and final Test match at The Oval in London on Day 3. The Bengal seamer had walked in as the nightwatchman at the fag end of Day 2 and faced just two deliveries. On Saturday, August 2, the 28-year-old showed a lot of grit and determination to frustrate the England bowlers, while stitching an important partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Dinesh Karthik said that the Indian team management would have wanted Deep to bat out the final few deliveries on Day 2. However, the Dehri-born didn't stop at that. Karthik noted that India got way more than they could have asked for from Deep. The former cricketer also mentioned that England didn't help their cause by dropping regulation chances.

"They couldn't have asked anything more from him. All they wanted him to do was to probably just get past last night, which he did quite comfortably. Today, he came out there and played wonderfully well. Gave a chance early, they put down chances, that is what happens. That is the last thing you want. As it is, you are a depleted bowling attack, and then when you put down simple ones, it gets even tougher," Karthik told Sky Sports Cricket.

"He got lucky as well. A couple of the balls that he ended up edging just went in the gap. All in all, I think it was a wonderful effort. You pretty much can assess and understand the mindset of a team, depending on how your tailenders play. Akash Deep's effort as a batter- you could see the applause that he got when he went back in - means so much for the team.

Deep amassed 66 runs off 94 balls, hitting 12 boundaries. He was dismissed on the stroke of Lunch by Jamie Overton. Karthik believes that Deep's knock has taken India to a strong position, and the batters to follow can help the visitors bat England out of the Test match.

"What he's done is actually take India into a very strong position and from here on, you'd expect the batters to bat on and take India into a very strong place and very good place," Karthik asserted.