WATCH: Akash Deep hits maiden Test fifty; Gautam Gambhir’s rare smile steals the show

India’s fifth Test against England at The Oval saw an unexpected hero step up on Day 3. Akash Deep, who stepped in as a nightwatchman late on Day 2, not only protected his wicket overnight but also went on to score his first Test fifty on the subsequent day.

His valuable fifty helped India bolster their position in the match. Interestingly, his knock drew a rare moment of joy from head coach Gautam Gambhir, whose smile from the dressing room balcony quickly caught the attention of fans online.

Gautam Gambhir all smiles as Akash Deep hits a maiden Test fifty

Yes, one of the most talked-about moments of the day wasn’t just Akash Deep reaching his fifty, but how people reacted to it. India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, who is usually known for his serious and intense look, was spotted with a rare smile on his face after Akash raised his bat to celebrate the milestone.

That rare smile from Gambhir quickly became a hit on social media. Fans shared the photo everywhere, where they described how nice it was to see such pure happiness in the team. 

Akash Deep walked in to bat at the end of Day 2 after the fall of India’s second wicket. Traditionally, the role of a nightwatchman is to survive a few overs and protect the more recognized batters. Akash did just that on Day 2, facing two deliveries and staying unbeaten.

However, when Day 3 began, he surprised everyone with his approach. On just the third ball of the morning, Akash stepped out and cleared his front leg to punch Jacob Bethell through deep mid-wicket for four runs. That stroke made it clear that Akash Deep was not just there to survive but to go about his business.

ALSO WATCH: Kumar Dharmasena faces Backlash after Controversial On-Field Gesture at The Oval

What followed was a flurry of confident strokes. He played with freedom, showing no signs of pressure. Two overs later, he sent Gus Atkinson to the boundary, further frustrating the England bowlers. While the pitch looked good for batting, Akash made it look even better with his clean hitting and smart shot selection.

His aggressive batting was not without its lucky moments. He survived an LBW review on the umpire’s call against Josh Tongue, and the very next ball, Zak Crawley dropped a catch at slip, a chance England would regret later. Akash made sure to make the most of these opportunities.

He went on to score his maiden Test fifty off 70 balls. Notably, he reached the milestone in style with a boundary off Atkinson. Soon after that, he pumped his fist and raised his bat; the Indian dressing room erupted in celebration. Ravindra Jadeja even called out for him to remove his helmet, cheering him on from the balcony.

In doing so, Akash Deep became the first Indian nightwatchman to score a Test half-century since Amit Mishra achieved the same feat at The Oval in 2011.

Akash found a solid partner in Yashasvi Jaiswal. The duo put on a 107-run partnership for the third wicket. Their stand frustrated a weakened England bowling attack that missed the services of Chris Woakes, who was ruled out of the Test due to a shoulder injury.

While Jaiswal continued his excellent form at one end, Akash looked like a seasoned top-order batter at the other. He played some gorgeous drives, pulled with confidence, and even exchanged a friendly hug with Ben Duckett, the same batter whom Akash had lightly sent off after dismissing him on Day 2.

Akash Deep was eventually dismissed for 66 off 94 balls, falling to a surprise bouncer from Gus Atkinson. And on a day where India tightened their grip on the match, it was a smiling Gambhir and a fearless nightwatchman who gave fans a memory they won’t forget.