Thanks to a strong start in the Test arena, Akash Deep is widely seen as a likely inclusion for India's Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign later this year. Following his debut against England, the right-arm pacer has been integrated into the lineup for the current Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, where the 27-year-old West Bengal native has already picked up two wickets.
From the very first over, Akash troubled the Bangladeshi lineup with a combination of steep bounce and effective swing. He managed to lure Zakir into a mistake in the ninth over, resulting in an edge that flew toward the slips, where Yashasvi Jaiswal took a brilliant catch. He maintained this momentum with the new ball, striking again to dismiss Shadman.
While Akash has shown great potential as a replacement for the sidelined Mohammed Shami in this series, breaking into the final XI permanently will be a tough task. Paras Mhambrey, who previously coached India's bowlers, lauded Akash's entry into Test cricket and suggested that the team will likely need his skills for the BGT later this year.
Mhambrey highlighted Akash's extensive experience in domestic cricket, noting that he possesses a deep understanding of the game and a strong ability to move the ball off the seam. According to the former coach, this specific skill set is crucial for success in Australia, where seam movement is key. Looking ahead to the five-match series, the 52-year-old believes India may need to rotate their stars, resting Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Shami for a game or two, which would give Akash a significant opportunity to contribute to the attack.
Mhambrey added that while it's a luxury to have a Test-loving bowler like Bumrah, the physical demands of a long series mean both he and Shami will require breaks, making strategic squad rotation essential. Regarding left-arm options, Mhambrey suggested that Arshdeep Singh might not be ready for the Test format just yet, instead recommending Yash Dayal for the Australian tour.
In Mhambrey's view, Arshdeep needs more time to develop his red-ball game, whereas Dayal has the ability to hit the deck hard—a vital trait for Australian conditions. He emphasized that the Kookaburra ball is most effective in the first 30 overs before the pitch tends to flatten out, making early seam movement indispensable.
The second Test between India and Bangladesh at Green Park has been heavily disrupted by weather. With two days left in the match, Sunday marked the second consecutive day without play, pushing the game toward a likely draw. The opening day was cut short after only 35 overs due to rain, leaving Bangladesh at 107/3, while Saturday was completely washed out by heavy overnight rain and morning drizzle.
Despite a clear sky and 15,000 eager fans arriving on Sunday morning, the game never got started. Umpires Chris Brown and Richard Kettleborough conducted three separate inspections, but eventually called off the day's play at 2:00 pm, citing an unsatisfactory state of the outfield.
Frustrated spectators blamed the outdated drainage system at Green Park for the repeated cancellations. One fan remarked that the stadium is antiquated, lacking basic amenities and featuring a drainage system that is essentially broken and dysfunctional.
Due to the unstable political climate in Bangladesh, the players' hotel in Kanpur is under extremely tight security. This is a stark contrast to the atmosphere in Chennai during the first Test, which India won by 280 runs. The Bangladeshi squad members have reported feeling like prisoners, claiming they haven't been allowed to leave their rooms for two days.
A senior official from the Bangladesh Cricket Board mentioned that the restrictions in Kanpur are much stricter than in Chennai, where players could explore the city or order outside food; currently, they are confined strictly to their rooms.