Team India could hand a debut to another player in the ongoing series against England. The hosts have handed debuts to Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel in the series so far and Bengal pacer Akash Deep is reportedly in line to make his Test bow in the upcoming fourth game.
The penultimate match of the five-Test series is scheduled to be played in Ranchi from February 23. India are set to make at least one change to their bowling lineup after resting Jasprit Bumrah for the forthcoming game. The India pace spearhead played in all three Tests so far before being rested as a part of the workload management.
And according to a report in The Indian Express, 27-year-old Akash Deep is in line to replace him in the playing eleven. While Mukesh Kumar has rejoined the squad for the game, the news outlet has reported that Akash Deep is likely to get the nod ahead of him.
Akash Deep to get the nod:
Mukesh Kumar played the second Test in Vishakhapatnam when Mohammed Siraj was rested. He did not manage to make an impact in that game, managing just a solitary wicket before being released from the squad just ahead of the third Test after Siraj returned. He joined the Bengal squad for their Ranji game against Bihar and picked up an impressive ten wickets.
While Mukesh was expected to replace Bumrah in the playing eleven, the team management has decided otherwise. The report claimed that the team management and the selectors were impressed with the way Akash Deep bowled in the matches between India A and England Lions.
In two unofficial Tests, the right-arm pacer picked up 11 wickets with the help of two four-wicket hauls. In first-class cricket, he has played 30 games so far and has picked up an impressive 104 wickets at an average of 23.58.
Meanwhile, India will be aiming to wrap up the series by winning the fourth Test in Ranchi. The hosts are leading the series 2-1 after their thumping 434-run win in the third Test. India lost the opening Test by 28 runs before bouncing back in style.
