Akash Deep Likely To Replace Bumrah; Here's Why Arshdeep Deserves A Chance In 2nd Test

Akash Deep and Morne Morkel - (Source : @ScreenGrab/X.com)

On Wednesday, July 2, India will lock horns with England in the second Test of a five-match series. Meanwhile, the players are training hard in the nets, with uncertainty over Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the upcoming match.

According to Revsportz, Jasprit Bumrah is all but ruled out of the second Test, and Akash Deep is most likely to replace the 31-year-old.

Reports suggest Akash Deep will pair up with Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj for the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham. This means Arshdeep Singh will once again have to settle for a place on the bench, even in Bumrah’s absence.

This article will examine why not including Arshdeep in the playing XI could be a blunder by Team India, especially since the visitors are already trailing 0-1 in the series.

Arshdeep High on Confidence

Arshdeep is currently more confident than Akash Deep, owing to his recent performances. Notably, Singh played a key role in Punjab Kings’ run to the final, taking 21 wickets in 17 innings, while Akash Deep managed only three wickets in six appearances.

Further, Arshdeep recently traveled to Kent, where he practiced red-ball cricket and demonstrated his ability to swing the ball both ways. On the other hand, Akash Deep has a good seam but is less effective at swinging the ball both ways, making him less threatening than Arshdeep. Let's look at Singh's numbers recently. 

Akash Deep's Recent Numbers A Concerning Sign

Arshdeep, a left-arm seamer, is yet to make his Test debut. His last red-ball appearance was in the 2024 Ranji Trophy, where he took just four wickets in three innings.

During his County stint in 2023, he claimed 13 wickets in five matches. Meanwhile, Akash Deep has been a regular part of the Indian team recently but has struggled to justify the faith shown in him.

Looking at his recent numbers, Akash Deep took just five wickets in four innings during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and only two wickets against New Zealand at home in three innings. He also struggled against Bangladesh at home, where he managed five wickets in four innings.

Variety and Team Balance

India have tested Akash Deep for a considerable period, and it would not be wrong to give Arshdeep a chance, especially as he is likely to exploit seaming conditions more effectively than the LSG seamer.

Furthermore, having a left-arm seamer in the playing XI adds much-needed variety to the attack, making Arshdeep a compelling option for the Edgbaston Test.

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