India manages to provoke England, while Deep remains unscathed by Duckett's elbow play during their encounter
In the heart of the 2025 India vs England Test series at The Oval, a pivotal moment unfolded that encapsulates the evolving dynamics of modern cricket. Akash Deep, an Indian bowler, found himself at the centre of controversy when his celebratory send-off of Ben Duckett was deemed mocking and provocative [1][3][4].
Deep's arm around Duckett's shoulder, a celebratory yet taunting gesture, has been criticised by former players and England's assistant coach Marcus Trescothick as crossing the line of sportsmanship in cricket, a traditionally non-contact sport [1][3][4]. This incident is part of an ongoing evolution in player interactions and on-field "send-offs" in cricket history, which have increasingly involved more expressive and sometimes confrontational behaviour.
Historically, cricket upheld a strict "spirit of the game" emphasising gentlemanly conduct. However, recent years, particularly in high-stakes international matches, have witnessed more verbal exchanges, sarcastic gestures, and psychological tactics to unsettle opponents [2][3]. The India-England 2025 series demonstrated this, with multiple incidents including Shubman Gill's sarcastic mockery of Zak Crawley and other players showing visible anger or dissent during play [2][3].
The International Cricket Council's (ICC) code of conduct tries to balance competitive intensity with respect, but enforcement has become more challenging as players push boundaries of what is acceptable "sledging" and send-offs. Critics and former players suggest some actions—like Deep's arm-around gesture—cross into poor sportsmanship, provoking debates about preserving cricket’s spirit while acknowledging the sport's evolving, more intense nature [3][4].
As the series progressed, tensions continued to rise. England batsman Joe Root was incensed after an exchange with Prasidh Krishna, showing rare signs of losing his cool on the pitch. There were plenty of words and arguments between players during the Test match [5]. England hold a 2-1 lead in the series with three days left in the deciding Test, adding to the pressure and intensity.
Despite the growing tension, Trescothick insists the teams will remain on friendly terms after the series, despite the growing evidence to the contrary. Earlier in the series, India captain Shubman Gill accused the hosts of ignoring the "spirit of cricket" [6]. England were angered by India's decision to bat on in the fourth Test instead of agreeing to a draw [6].
In the current standoff between Deep and Duckett, India are leading by 52 runs at 75-2 in their second innings. Duckett did not react as he walked off, but Deep had to be pulled away by KL Rahul to prevent the row from escalating [7]. As the series reaches its climax, the question remains: how far is too far when it comes to on-field interactions, and how can cricket's traditions adapt to modern professional contexts where psychological games play a larger role [3][4]?
Akash Deep's celebratory gesture towards Ben Duckett, an Indian bowler's arm around England's batsman's shoulder, sparked a debate about the evolving dynamics of sportsmanship in cricket during the India vs England Test series at The Oval in 2025. This incident, following multiple instances of verbal exchanges and psychological tactics, highlights the challenge for the International Cricket Council's code of conduct in balancing competitive intensity with respect, especially in high-stakes international matches.
