India’s fourth wicket fell late on Day 4 of the ongoing Lord’s Test as nightwatchman Akash Deep failed to make a mark with the bat. Sent in to shield the middle-order from facing the final overs of the day, Deep’s brief stay lasted only 11 balls. Partnering KL Rahul, who remained solid amid a flurry of dismissals, Deep couldn’t survive the testing phase. By stumps, India found themselves precariously placed at 58 for 4, chasing a testing target, with pressure mounting on their batting unit.

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has now shed light on the reasoning behind Deep's promotion in the order. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin recalled a similar instance from a previous series under head coach Rahul Dravid, involving Rishabh Pant.

"I'll tell you a story. Remember that Test match in Mirpur when India were chasing some 140 runs to win? So I was sitting and relaxing in the dressing room after bowling. It was all hot and humid. I was sitting next to the analyst, and Rahul Dravid (head coach) was there a little further. After we lost the first two wickets, Rishabh said 'main nahi ja raha batting karne' (I am not going out to bat) to Rahul bhai. There was a good 30-40 minutes left. But he said I am not going. When the next wicket fell and the No. 4 batter was supposed to go in, he went inside and they had to send Axar Patel first, I guess, and then Jaydev Unadkat to go in as the nightwatchman," Ashwin recounted.