IND vs ENG: Akash Deep to replace Bumrah, make debut in 4th test - Reports

Bengal pacer Akash Deep was added to India squad for the last three test matches against England.

Rohit Sharma-led India will have a tough task ahead of the upcoming IND vs ENG fourth test match, which is going to start on February 23 in Ranchi. In a press release, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on February 20 said that India’s premium pacer Jasprit Bumrah had been released for the fourth test as part of work load management.

“The decision was taken keeping in mind the duration of the series and the amount of cricket he has played in recent times,” BCCI stated in the release.

“Mukesh Kumar, who was released from the squad for the third Test in Rajkot, has joined the squad in Ranchi,” BCCI added.

With Jasprit Bumrah missing the fourth test, the senior management has to choose between young pacers Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar.

Bengal pacer Mukesh Kumar, who was part of the playing XI in the Vizag test, had a forgettable outing. The 30-year-old Indian speedster registered bowling figures of 0/44 in seven overs in the first innings and 1/26 in five overs in the second.

After Mukesh’s poor performance in the second test match, the Indian pacer was released from the squad before the Rajkot game, which allowed him to play a Ranji Trophy game for Bengal against Bihar.

Meanwhile, uncapped pacer Akash Deep received his maiden India call-up replacing Avesh Khan for the last three test matches against Ben Stokes-led England. The young pacer also had a brilliant game for India ‘A’ in the unofficial test series against the England Lions, where the pacer took 10 wickets.

Akash Deep likely to make debut in the fourth test match against England

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has been released from the squad ahead of the upcoming Ranchi test to manage his workload, has given the Bengal pacer a chance to make his test debut for the Indian national side.

As per reports from the Indian Express, the team management and selectors are likely to go ahead with uncapped speedster Akash Deep due to his mind-blowing performance and the way he bowled during the India ‘A’ vs. England Lions unofficial test series.

The Bengal pacer Akash Deep scalped 10 wickets in the two-test games in Ahmedabad. The pacer has picked up 104 wickets in 30 First-Class games so far at an average of 23.58.

India’s updated squad for the 4th Test: 

Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep.

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