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On Thursday, September 5, during the Duleep Trophy games between India ‘A’ vs. ‘B’ and India ‘C’ vs. ‘D’, 17 wickets fell in just the first two sessions. Out of these, 15 wickets were taken by fast bowlers, who took advantage of the pace, bounce, and seam movement offered on the Anantapur and Bengaluru pitches.
This is happening while there’s some uncertainty surrounding India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia in December. Whether this is just a coincidence or a sign, it’s hard to ignore! While Indian pitches usually favour pacers early in the domestic season, it’s possible that the BCCI might use this tournament as a testing ground for Australia by preparing faster tracks. Although there are more Test series lined up before December, the main focus for Gautam Gambhir’s side will likely be on retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Among all the fast bowlers, Akash Deep stood out as the most promising candidate for the Australia tour. The Bengal pacer took two big wickets — Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy — in consecutive balls and gave away just 19 runs in his 14 overs.
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Here are the reasons why Akash Deep should be on that flight to Australia:
1. Perfect Skill Set for Australian Conditions
Akash Deep may not be your typical hit-the-deck fast bowler like Josh Hazlewood, but his ability to use the seam effectively makes him a valuable asset. He demonstrated this skill by squaring up Nitish Kumar Reddy, and his deliveries tend to skid into the batters with pace.
These abilities will come in handy in Australia, where he can keep quality batters on the back foot for long spells. His exceptional control over his line and length is crucial, especially for someone new to playing in Australian conditions. With players like Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh in Australia’s middle order, Akash Deep’s bowling style could pose serious challenges.
Additionally, he could serve as an excellent backup for Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, especially since Shami is still recovering from a significant injury. When selected, Akash Deep offers reliability — even on a bad day, his performances won’t hurt the team. On his best days, he has the potential to win matches for India.
2. More Experience Than His Competitors
When compared to the other contenders — Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Harshit Rana — Akash Deep has more experience and a proven track record in first-class cricket. Many of these bowlers haven’t yet played Test matches for India, while Akash already made a strong debut in February 2024, picking up three key wickets against England.
India cannot afford to gamble on inexperience, especially in a high-pressure series like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Akash Deep has consistently delivered under pressure, and his calm, composed performance against England shows he’s capable of handling big-match situations. His experience in title-winning domestic teams only adds to his credentials.
3. Momentum and Form — Critical for Success in Australia
India needs to bank on form and momentum heading into the series, and Akash Deep has plenty of both. Relying on untested or inexperienced players in such a crucial series against a strong Australian side would be risky. Australia, after all, will come in fully prepared and determined not to repeat the mistakes of the last Border-Gavaskar series.
Akash Deep has been on a rapid rise, even before making his Test debut. In the four red-ball innings leading up to the Duleep Trophy, he claimed 15 wickets. More wickets in the Duleep Trophy could solidify his case for a spot in the upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh and South Africa. If he maintains his current rhythm, it would be a no-brainer to include him in the squad for Australia.
Also Read: England-Pakistan Test Series May Shift to UAE or Sri Lanka