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In a disappointing development for Indian cricket fans ahead of the final Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Akash Deep has suffered an injury. The pace bowler has injured his back and will not be available for selection in the SCG Test match.
Akash Deep was one of the four fast bowlers picked by India in their fielding eleven for the Boxing Day Test. Though Deep couldn’t make the same impact as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, he played the role of a supporting pacer to perfection.
Deep came into the playing XI for the Brisbane Test, replacing Harshit Rana. He took five wickets in two matches, with his best figures being 2/28. In this list, we will now look at the three reasons why Deep being excluded from the fifth Test of BGT 2024-25 is a huge blow for Team India.
#1 Akash Deep had Alex Carey’s song in BGT 2024-25
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey has been one of the most impressive batters for Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 series. He destroys order and builds important partnerships with those left behind. Notably, Carey has amassed 195 runs with a strike rate of over 70 in this series.
Akash Deep was selected in India’s XI for the third and fourth Tests, and he dismissed Carey in both matches. The Indian team will miss Deep’s services when the Australian wicketkeeper comes to bat in the SCG Test.
#2 Akash Deep was a solid option in the lower order
One of the main reasons why India are down 1-2 and not 1-3 in the series against Australia is Akash Deep’s batting. The fast bowler scored a crucial 44-ball 31 while batting at number 11 in the first innings of the Gabba Test match.
Deep’s 31-run knock ensured India avoided a follow-on, denying Australia a chance to win the Test by one innings. India have the options of Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna to replace Deep. Neither of the two pacers can match Deep’s batting skills.
#3 Akash Deep created many chances with the ball
Although Deep only scored five wickets in the two Test matches he played against Australia in BGT 2024-25, the pacer was very unlucky. He could easily have taken five more wickets had some of the close deliverers taken the edge of the bat or knocked down the stumps.
Deeply built up pressure on the opposition team with his pace bowling. His likely replacement, Prasidh Krishna, conceded runs at over four runs per over in his debut Test series against South Africa on the pace-friendly South African wickets in 2023/24.
Even Harshit Rana couldn’t execute his plans to perfection when he played in the pink-ball Test against Australia. Rana or Krishna’s economy numbers could be a concern for India in the Sydney Test. So Deep’s injury will be a huge blow to the team.
Edited by Arshit Garg