Akash Deep takes six wickets on return from injury in Irani Cup
Akash Deep claims six wickets on return from seven-month injury layoff as Rest of India win Irani Cup.
Bengal pacer Akash Deep took six wickets for Rest of India in the Irani Cup final against Jammu and Kashmir. Akash, who recovered from a lower-back stress fracture, returned to professional cricket for the first time since February and claimed three wickets in each innings.
He trapped Qamran Iqbal leg-before and dismissed Shubham Khajuria with the first ball after lunch on the fourth day. Akash later returned to remove Sahil Lotra as J and K collapsed from 89 for three to 111 all out while chasing 279.
Mukesh Kumar took six for 33 in the second innings to finish with nine wickets in the match. Rest of India won by 167 runs. Ravichandran Smaran scored 135 in the second innings after making 68 in the first.
CricHubb Take
A seven-month absence from red-ball cricket ended with match figures that immediately place Akash Deep back in contention for higher honours if he maintains fitness through the Ranji season.