IND vs BAN: Why Akash Deep Used Virat Kohli's MRF Bat During Kanpur Test?

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India vs Bangladesh at Kanpur took an unexpected twist when Akash Deep, a bowler by trade, stunned everyone with his batting prowess, hammering two back-to-back sixes off Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan.

What made this moment even more special was that Akash was using a bat gifted by none other than Virat Kohli himself. As the ball sailed into the stands, Kohli, watching from the dressing room, burst into laughter, a moment that quickly went viral across social media.

India had set the tone for an aggressive approach after posting 285 runs in their first innings, securing a 52-run lead. With rain interruptions leading to lost time, the Indian side took an unconventional T20 approach to ensure the match would be decided on the final day. Yashasvi Jaiswal's fiery 72 and KL Rahul’s 68 set a solid foundation, but it was Akash Deep’s cameo that stole the show, scoring 12 runs off just five balls, including those two towering sixes.

The sixes themselves were jaw-dropping. Shakib delivered a fuller ball, which Akash dispatched over the long-on boundary with effortless ease. The very next delivery, Shakib shortened the length, but Akash was ready, pulling it over deep mid-wicket for another massive hit. Even seasoned campaigners like Kohli and Rohit Sharma couldn't help but be impressed, as the camera caught them sharing a laugh after Akash's blitz.

The Kohli Bat Gift Story

In a heartwarming backstory, Akash Deep recently shared that the bat used for these remarkable sixes was a gift from Kohli. Recalling the moment to Times of India, he said, "Virat bhaiya himself gave me the bat... He asked me, 'Bat chaiye kya tujhe?’ (Do you need a bat?) Who wouldn’t want a bat from Virat bhaiya? He’s a legend.” While Akash had vowed never to use it in a game, considering it a prized possession, it seems fate had other plans.