Akash Deep has been stepping in for the injured Mohammed Shami during the ongoing Test series, showing promising signs early in his Test career. However, it may be challenging for him to secure a permanent spot in the playing XI.
Having made his Test debut earlier this year in the series against England, Akash is also part of India's XI in the current Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. The 27-year-old West Bengal pacer has already made an impact, taking a couple of wickets, and has caught attention with his ability to hit the deck hard and extract swing with bounce. In the ninth over, he tempted Bangladesh’s Zakir to edge the ball to the gully, where Yashasvi Jaiswal took a sharp catch to provide India with the breakthrough. Akash followed up by dismissing Shadman, further troubling the Bangladesh batting lineup with his new-ball prowess.
Despite his strong performances in place of Shami, it could still be difficult for him to retain a spot in the XI once senior pacers return.
Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has praised Akash's early success, suggesting that India will need him for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) later this year.
"Akash has bowled extensively in domestic cricket. He understands what needs to be done and relies heavily on seam movement, which is crucial in Australian conditions," Mhambrey told The Times of India.
The five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series will demand strategic management of players, and Mhambrey believes that Akash could play a crucial role if key pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are rested during the series.
"We are fortunate to have Bumrah, who loves playing Test cricket. But with such a long series, there will be times when Bumrah and Shami need rest, and that’s when a bowler like Akash will be vital," he added.