Indian fast bowler Akash Deep made an electrifying start in New Zealand’s second innings during the third Test in Mumbai. Opening the bowling, Akash stunned the visitors with a lethal delivery that dismissed New Zealand’s captain, Tom Latham, in the very first over. The fiery pacer’s initial breakthrough provided a significant boost to India’s momentum on Day 2 and set the stage for what would become a dominant display by the Indian bowling unit.

High drama in the first over: DRS and immediate response

The excitement kicked off on the fourth ball of the first over, as Akash trapped Latham in front of the stumps with a sharp delivery. The on-field umpire raised his finger for LBW, sending the Indian fans into cheers. However, Latham immediately signaled for a DRS review, which showed the ball was missing the stumps, and the decision was overturned.

Undeterred by the decision, Akash came back with a perfectly executed fifth ball. This time, he delivered a beautifully controlled nip-backer from round the wicket, angling it in late from outside off-stump. Latham, who seemed eager to capitalize on his reprieve, went for a hard-handed drive but misjudged the line, leaving a sizable gap between bat and pad. The ball slid through this gap with precision, shattering the stumps and sending the Mumbai crowd into a frenzy.

Also READ: IND vs NZ: Fans react as Shubman Gill misses out on a century by a whisker on Day 2 of the 3rd Test

An animated celebration: Akash Deep’s fiery display

Akash’s celebration was as intense as his delivery. Pumped up by the big wicket of New Zealand’s skipper, he couldn’t hold back his emotions. With a fierce look and an animated gesture, Akash gave Latham a hard stare, reflecting the passion and aggression he brought to the field. His pumped-up reaction highlighted the importance of the wicket, as Latham’s dismissal early on was a major setback for the visitors.

Here is the video:

𝐀𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐢 𝐤𝐚𝐚𝐦 𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐮 𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐲𝐞 😉#INDvNZ #IDFCFirstBankTestTrophy #JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/13MNtSwl5t

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) November 2, 2024

Indian bowlers dominate Day 2 to build a strong position

After being bowled out for 263 in their first innings, the Indian team was eager to fight back with the ball. Akash’s early breakthrough laid the foundation for a commanding bowling performance, with India’s bowlers relentlessly attacking the New Zealand batters. By the 33rd over of New Zealand’s second innings, India had already scalped six wickets, restricting the visitors to 131 for 6. The Kiwis still trailed by 103 runs, with the Indian attack tightening their grip on the match.

Also WATCH: Akash Deep traps Devon Conway LBW with a sharp inswinger in 3rd IND vs NZ Test

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