Injured Akash Deep inquired about an injection by Shubman Gill as Girish Sundar's gambling strategy proved unsuccessful against England.
During the intense fifth Test between India and England at The Oval in August 2025, a remarkable moment unfolded on Day 4. India's captain Shubman Gill was heard on the stump mic asking injured pacer Akash Deep, "Injection liya kya?" ("Have you taken an injection?"). This moment occurred as Akash Deep, struggling with a shin injury, was visibly finding it difficult to bowl effectively against a strong England batting lineup.
The context of this exchange is significant. Joe Root and Harry Brook were mounting a formidable partnership, and India's frontline bowlers like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna were beginning to show signs of fatigue. Akash Deep, effectively India's last bowling option, was being relied upon heavily by Gill, who was trying to manage a severely compromised bowling attack. The "injection" remark underscored both the physical toll on players and the mounting desperation in India's camp to find breakthroughs despite injury setbacks.
However, the incident also sparked criticism. Some commentators and former players questioned the decision to play Akash Deep despite his injury, suggesting it risked further harm and exhaustion for India's already overworked bowlers, especially Siraj. Critics argued that continuing with a half-fit bowler under such high workloads was problematic, contrasting India's limited bowling resources with England's deeper seam attack.
England's batsmen, however, were not unaffected by the pressure. Ben Duckett scored a fluent fifty before falling to Prasidh Krishna. Joe Root and Harry Brook also scored their respective fifties, taking England to 250 runs. However, Mohammed Siraj removed captain Ollie Pope, leaving England needing 125 runs more to reach the victory target of 374 and win the series 3-1.
The incident also saw Shubman Gill resuming with a pace-heavy approach after lunch, with Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj operating in tandem. Washington Sundar was introduced for a brief spin spell, but the experiment fizzled out quickly.
In summary, Shubman Gill's "Injection liya kya?" question highlighted the physical and tactical challenges India faced due to injuries in a crucial phase of a high-pressure match. It symbolized the captain's struggle to manage his depleted bowling attack amid England's formidable batting response and sparked wider debate about player fitness management in Test cricket.
India's reliance on Akash Deep, who was struggling with a shin injury, became evident as the team's frontline bowlers were visibly fatigued during the fifth Test against England in 2025. Despite this, football was not the only sport on the minds of fans and commentators, as the incident sparked discussions about player fitness management in cricket.
