Young pacer Akash Deep was making waves in his debut Test at The Gabba, rattling Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne with a probing off-stump line. His early spell had all the makings of a breakthrough performance—until a mid-over suggestion from Virat Kohli changed everything. Recalling the moment at the AWS AI Conclave 2025, Ravichandran Ashwin revealed how Kohli advised Akash to bowl straighter, believing it would trouble Smith. Responding to his captain’s call, Akash adjusted his length, but the shift backfired. With a leg-gully in place, his deliveries drifted onto the pads, allowing the Australian batters to flick and pull him for runs. His well-crafted rhythm collapsed, and the spell lost its bite. In an interview at AWS AI Conclave 2025, Ashwin revealed, "In the recently concluded Test series. Akash Deep was bowling a fabulous spell at The Gabba. He was probably bowling the best at The Gabba, Jassi (Jasprit Bumrah) wasn't. He was going through a wonderful spell of 3-4 overs. I was watching the game from outside. No offence. I saw Virat (Kohli) run up to him and said 'Seedha daalo yaar (bowl straight buddy)' and immeditely out came a fielder and he went to leg gully. Akash Deep bowled on the body and a couple of balls down the leg side, got flicked, got pulled, and his rhythm went awry." Read also: Watch: Virat Kohli's Classy Shot in His Ranji Trophy Return Ashwin’s Take: “Let a Bowler Build His Spell” Ashwin explained why such mid-over changes can be damaging, explaining that even if a batter feels what can make him uncomfortable, bowling is a different art. And that each bowler has his/her own process to go in. So Ashwin strongly feels to let the bowlers carry on without interruptions. He added, "So why does this happen? In Virat's head he thought 'That is uncomfortable for me so you do that against Steve Smith, you are going to get him out'. Now, bowling is very different. If I need to hit the right length, I need to start. There could be a slope at a particular ground which would stop me from bowling the perfect length so I get into a rhythm. If you understand a bowler, you know he is going through a right spell. Do not disturb him, allow him to build on his spell." Despite the setback, Akash Deep fought back to finish the first innings with 1/95 and added two more wickets in the second. However, his series was cut short by injury before the final Test. While the experience was a tough lesson, it highlighted a crucial point—sometimes, even the best intentions on the field can lead to unintended consequences.