In a disappointing development for Indian cricket fans ahead of the last Test Frontier-Gavaskar Trophy series, Akash Deep suffered an injury. The speedster has injured his back and will not be available for selection in the SCG Test match.
Akash Deep was one of four pace bowlers selected in India's playing XI for the Boxing Day Test. Deep has not been able to make the same impact as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, but he has played the role of a supporting pacer perfectly.
Deep came in for the Brisbane Test in place of Harshit Rana. He took five wickets in two matches, his best figures being 2/28. Now in this list, we will look at three reasons why Deep's exclusion from the fifth Test of BGT 2024-25 is a huge blow for Team India.
#1 Akash Deep had Alex Carey number on BGT 2024-25
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey has been one of the most effective batsmen for Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 series. He fulfills the order and builds important partnerships with tailgaters. Note that Carey scored 195 runs at a strike rate of over 70 in this series.
Akash Deep was named in India's XI for the third and fourth Tests and he dismissed Carey in both matches. The Indian team will be without Deep's services when the Australian wicketkeeper steps out to bat in the SCG Test.
No. 2 Akash Deep was a solid option in the lower order
Akash Deep's batting is one of the main reasons why India trailed Australia 1-2 instead of 1-3 in the series. The fast bowler hit a crucial 44-ball 31 while batting at number 11 in the first innings of the Gabba Test match.
A 31-run knock from Deep saw India escape the follow-on, leaving Australia with no chance of winning the Test by an innings. India has Harshit Rana and variants Prasidh Krishna To replace Deep. Neither of the two pacers can match Deep's batting skills.
#3 Akash Deep created many opportunities with the ball
Deep took just five wickets in his two Test matches against Australia in BGT 2024-25, but the pacer was unlucky. He could easily have taken five more wickets if some of the close deliveries had caught the edge of the bat or knocked off the stumps.
He created deep pressure on the opposing team with his bowling pace. His likely replacement, Prasidh Krishna, conceded more than four runs in his debut Test series on fast South African wickets against South Africa in 2023/24.
Even Harshit Rana failed to execute his perfect plans while playing in the pink ball Test against Australia. The economy rates of Rana or Krishna could be an area of concern for India in the Sydney Test. So Deep's injury will be a big blow to the team.
Edited by Arshit Garg