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Akash Deep will reportedly be out of action for a month after missing the SCG Test against Australia. He will also likely not be called up for the upcoming white-ball series against England.
India’s Akash Deep has impressed in his recent stint with the Test team. (AP)
India pacer Akash Deep is reportedly set to miss the upcoming white-ball series against England. The pacer, who has yet to make his debut in T20Is or ODIs, is not expected to be available for selection for the five T20Is, with the series beginning in his hometown of Kolkata.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, the pacer missed the fifth and final Test against Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to back pain and is expected to be out of action for at least a month. The report suggests that he will head to the National Cricket Academy, which has been renamed the New Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, after the one-month period.
Despite the Bengal-based pacer not making his debut in the limited overs format, he has certainly impressed in his recent stint in Tests. Should injuries have not played a factor, he could have made it to the squad in the absence of senior fast-bowling duo, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
The senior pair is also expected to be out of action for the upcoming T20Is against England. The two bowled over 150 overs each in the tour Down Under and need to ensure sufficient rest to ensure their fitness for other important games like the Champions Trophy.
Deep on the other hand could be in contention for a spot in the Champions Trophy squad as suggested in the report. But his chances will depend on the NCA’s clearance. The 28-year-old holds a fairly decent record in the List-A format having picked up 42 wickets in 28 games at an average of 24.5 and an economy rate of 4.82. He can also be a handy batter amongst the tail-enders as shown in recent times when he helped India avoid the follow-on during the Gabba Test earlier in the Australian tour.
The report claims that the selection committee is set to meet around the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting on January 12 to pick the ODI and T20I squads for the England series and the provisional squad for the Champions Trophy.
