With Mohammad Shami still on the mend, selectors are turning to Akash Deep for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, thanks to his outstanding performance on a seam-friendly M Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch. The 27-year-old's remarkable display in the Duleep Trophy, characterised by significant movement both in the air and off the pitch, earned him a place in the Indian Test squad.
His remarkable nine-wicket haul (4/60 and 5/56) while representing India A against India B, along with a vital innings of 43 runs off 42 balls in a challenging 275-run chase, caught the selectors’ eyes. This performance signified a strong comeback to red-ball cricket after his Test debut in February, even though India A ultimately lost the match.
“My last proper match was the Ranchi Test for India, and I had only played one IPL game since then. It’s challenging to return as a pacer after such a long break, but I’ve been at the NCA, treating practice matches as real competitions to keep my muscle memory intact,” Akash explained prior to the squad announcement.
The Bengal pacer has spent his downtime honing his skills, drawing knowledge from his state teammate Mohammad Shami and adopting a more angular bowling run-up. Among his proudest moments were his first-innings dismissal of Nitish Kumar Reddy and a crucial inswinging delivery that sent Washington Sundar back to the pavilion on day four.
“I bowled around the wicket to Sundar for a while, and since we've faced each other in the NCA nets, I knew I had to devise a different strategy. By switching over the wicket, I was able to achieve the swing,” Akash recalled.
He also shared how he refined his outswinger after suffering a shoulder injury that affected his natural inswing. Over time, he mastered both deliveries, which proved advantageous on the challenging Bengaluru pitch.
“I’ve learned a lot from Shami, especially regarding seam movement against left-handers from around the wicket, but my bowling style remains distinct. Any similarities come from our shared techniques,” Akash noted.
With Shami still in recovery and Bangladesh arriving on the back of impressive performances in Pakistan, Akash Deep’s recent form comes at a critical juncture for India, as they gear up for a significant series against both Bangladesh and New Zealand.