Paras Mhambrey backs Akash Deep for BGT 2024-25, advocates Yash Dayal's inclusion over Arshdeep Singh

Indian pacer Akash Deep has emerged as an ideal choice for the Indian cricket team to replace Mohammed Shami if he can’t regain fitness in time for the much-awaited five-match Test series in Australia later this year.

As the Indian team management and selectors grapple with the uncertainty surrounding Shami’s fitness and availability, many have been backing Akash Deep for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia.

Notably, Shami has been sidelined for a year due to an Achilles tendon injury. With three crucial home Tests remaining before India embarks on a grueling five-match Test tour of Australia, the pace attack still remains unsettled.

Injury concerns for Mohammed Shami set to open doors for Akash Deep for Australia tour

This situation is reminiscent of four years ago when Team India cemented its status as a fast-bowling powerhouse in Australia, fielding a formidable lineup that included Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Umesh Yadav, with Mohammed Siraj eagerly awaiting his chance.

Now, as the Indian team finds itself in a rebuilding phase, the selection of the first-choice pace trio has become a big concern, especially with Shami's fitness. However, Akash Deep looks like the perfect man to step up and fill the big shoes for India in Australia, according to former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.

Paras Mhambrey was quoted as saying by the Times of India: “Akash has done a lot of bowling in domestic cricket. He understands what needs to be done. He also relies a lot on seam movement. You need that kind of bowler in Australia who can nip it around off the seam.”

The former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey called for a strategic selection to pick five pacers for the upcoming crucial Australia tour. He believes that even if Shami gets fit, there needs to be one more pacer besides Bumrah, Siraj, and Akash Deep, as India needs to manage the workload of their pacers on the tour.

We are lucky to have someone like Jasprit Bumrah: Paras Mhambrey

Paras Mhambrey further added, “We are lucky to have someone like Bumrah who loves to play Test cricket. But Bumrah and Shami need to be rested in the middle of a long series. That's when the strategic selection comes into play.”

However, Paras Mhambrey is not in favor of picking Arshdeep Singh for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia; instead, he advocated for Yash Dayal. Paras Mhambrey feels Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav should be India’s go-to spinners in the high-profile Test series against Australia.

The former coach noted, “With Ashwin in the team and hopefully Kuldeep Yadav, a left-armer could be a strategic pick to create rough outside the off-stump. I feel Arshdeep maybe needs a bit more time to grow with the red ball, but Dayal looks like someone who could hit the deck.”

In the end, Paras Mhambrey emphasized the importance of having bowlers who can effectively utilize the conditions in Australia by hitting the deck hard and generating seam movement. He noted that the bowlers can make the most of the Kookaburra balls in the initial 30 overs of play, after which the pitch tends to flatten out.

In this context, he highlighted Prasidh Krishna as a valuable asset, pointing out that, like Akash, Krishna's height allows him to maximize the potential of the pitch.