Shubman Gill shows concern for injured Akash Deep, asks ‘injection liya hai tu?’

India Test captain Shubman Gill was clinging to his last hope for a breakthrough in the fifth Test against England at London’s Oval. While England was chasing a record 374 runs, Gill got injured pacer Akash Deep to bowl once more, inquiring whether he had received a painkiller injection to relieve his agony. “Injection liya kya tum?” Gill was overheard saying on the stump mic, indicating his desire to turn his seamers after a brief spin spell by Washington Sundar did not have any effect.

Akash Deep had taken a knock earlier during the day when Harry Brook’s straight drive hit him on the shin, putting him in visible pain. This notwithstanding, Deep kept bowling, and Gill’s question reflected India’s need to disrupt the England partnership. Sanjay Bangar, former India batting coach, added that Gill’s question reflected his eagerness to go back to pace after lunch.

England closed on 339/6, 35 runs short of winning, thanks to Joe Root and Harry Brook, who had bossed the Indian bowlers. Root scored his 39th Test century, while Brook’s 10th, combining together for 195 runs for the fourth wicket. Among India’s bowling, three wickets came from Prasidh Krishna, while Mohammed Siraj took two.

Siraj had delivered a lion-hearted eight-over spell, picking two wickets to leave England at 164/3 at lunch. He got Ollie Pope trapped in front for the second time in the match and yorked Zak Crawley. Pope had paced up impressively early on, scoring three boundaries off Prasidh Krishna before getting out in the following over.