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Former India captain Sourav Ganguly reckons that Bengal pacer Akash Deep is a genuinely talented bowler and someone to watch out for. Ganguly opined that the 27-year-old has the ability to bowl as quickly as Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami - in the high 140s (kph).
Akash Deep has been picked in the Indian squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, which begins at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from September 19. The right-arm pacer claimed nine wickets for India A against India B in the first round match of the 2024 Duleep Trophy at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Speaking at an event in Kolkata, Ganguly reserved high praise for Akash Deep. The former India captain said (as quoted by PTI):
"Akash Deep is an outstanding young fast bowler. He runs in, bowls quick, and will bowl for long periods. He is fit, I've seen him play for Bengal over a long period of time, taking wickets. He will be as quick as Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, hitting high 140s. He is one to watch out for."
Akash Deep made his Test debut in the fourth Test against England in Ranchi in February this year. He made an immediate impact, picking up three big wickets - Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope. The right-arm pacer has the experience of 32 first-class matches in which he has claimed 116 wickets at an average of 22.86, with five five-fers and one ten-wicket match haul.
"It's still a very good attack" - Ganguly on Mohammed Shami's absence
While Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah have been named in the Indian squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, Shami remains unavailable as he is still recovering from his ankle surgery. Ganguly, though, asserted that India have a good bowling attack even though Shami is missing from the team.
"I know Mohammed Shami is missing because of injury, but he will be back very soon since India is going to Australia. It's still a very good attack," the 52-year-old former India batter commented.
Apart from Bumrah, Siraj and Akash Deep, India have also picked Yash Dayal in the squad for the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. The left-arm seamer has been handed his maiden India call-up on the basis of some impressive recent performances. Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are the spinners in the 16-member squad.
