Who is Akash Deep, 27-year-old fast bowler who took 3 wickets in 7 overs during his Test debut against England

Bengal pacer Akash Deep makes his Test debut against England in the fourth Test match at Ranchi. Notably, Rohit Sharma and Co. are leading the series by 2-1, and they aim to win the ongoing Test match to win the series. However, Team India is not playing with their full-strength squad due to the absence of prominent players like Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah.

However, it seems that Akash Deep got a place in the national team for his Test debut owing to his outstanding showing against the England Lions, as he took 12 wickets in three matches. The 27-year-old cricketer showed his full bowling skills and variety with a long batting session, demonstrating how ready he had been during the practice session ahead of the game. His inclusion appears to be an intelligent choice by the Indian side, showcasing his ability to take full advantage of the weather and bolster the bowling attack.

Meanwhile, Akash Deep made his dream debut as he went on to pick up three wickets in his seven overs, which gave India a great start and a big boost. The right-arm pacer talks about his family struggles and how that changed his fate to be in India’s squad against England.

“My father had a stroke and then he passed away after a brief struggle with paralysis three years ago. Two months after his death, my older brother passed away. He had a common cold, fever. It hadn’t come down for a few days, and we went to a doctor, who didn’t diagnose his problem properly. I had my mother to take care of,” Akash Deep said on ESPNCricinfo.

One change with Akash Deep making his debut: Rohit Sharma

Meanwhile, speaking about the ongoing game here, it was England skipper Ben Stokes who had won the toss and invited the hosts to field first in the game. However, Rohit Sharma also talks about their team strategy and how the young guys put up the show to help India get the lead by 2-1.

“We would have batted first as well. Looks a bit dry and has some cracks, but that’s the nature of the pitch here. The last two games were good for us and we’ll have to play in the same way. Proud of a lot of young guys in the squad, they’ve taken the responsibility and have taken the challenge head-on. They are confident in their skills, and moving forward it’s a good thing. One change with Akash Deep making his debut,” Rohit Sharma said at the toss.

Here is the Playing XI for the 4th Test game:

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj