With the fourth Test against England kicking off this Friday, February 23, in Ranchi, Akash Deep is widely expected to make his international debut. He is slated to fill the void left by Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested to ensure he isn't overextended. The competition for the spot alongside Mohammed Siraj comes down to two Bengal speedsters, Akash and Mukesh Kumar. Current indications suggest that Akash has the upper hand, as his recent outings for India A against the England Lions really caught the eyes of the selectors.
Fast bowler Akash Deep is likely to make his international test debut during the fourth Test against England which starts on February 23, Friday in Ranchi. Akash is set to replace India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has been released from the squad to manage his workload. Akash and Mukesh Kumar, both Bengal fast bowlers, are the two pace alternatives to partner Mohammed Siraj in the fourth Test.
However, a few reports suggest that the selectors and team management are likely to go with Akash because they are impressed with the way he bowled in the matches against India A and England Lions.
During two red-ball games for India A in Ahmedabad, Akash proved his worth by taking 11 wickets. He has established himself as one of Bengal's top red-ball bowlers, accumulating 104 wickets over 30 first-class matches at an impressive average of 23.58.
Mukesh Kumar's experience in the second Test at Vizag was less impactful; he bowled 12 overs on a pitch that offered little help, ending with just one wicket—the number 10 batter, Shoaib Bashir. Despite that, he's bounced back impressively by taking ten wickets in a single Ranji Trophy match last week. This resurgence in domestic form should theoretically put him back in the conversation for the Test series, though it remains to be seen if the management will pivot back to him.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah confirmed through an official statement that Jasprit Bumrah would miss the fourth Test. Shah explained that the move was necessary to manage the bowler's workload, considering how much cricket he has played recently and the overall length of the series.