Shubman Gill accused of committing CRIME in Oval Test: 'Playing a bowler after giving him injection'
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Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has slammed Indian management and skipper Shubman Gill for picking a not fully fit Akash Deep to bowl in the decisive Fifth Test at The Oval.
The 61-year-old former Indian batsman pointed out Akash Deep's lack of full fitness, which seemed evident on Day 4 of the Test, as he slowly lost control over the line of his deliveries, as he bowled wayward deliveries and seemed physically restricted.
The bowler also lacked the bowling deficiency after India decided to restore the bowling attack from the Edgbaston Test, which included Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna.
He bowled 17 overs in the first innings, returning with figures of 1/80, and then bowled 20 overs in the second innings with the figures of 1/85, which included the dismissal of Harry Brook.
Former Indian cricketer slams Shubman Gill for making Akash Deep play the 5th Test
The pacer Akash Deep had sustained a groin injury, which had kept him out of the fourth Test at Manchester, as a result of which Anshul Kamboj made his debut. However, he was brought back into the side despite not being fully fit, which has caught the attention of former opener Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Ahead of Day 5's play, Navjot Singh Sidhu shared a video on his YouTube channel, where he mentioned:
“On the English commentary, it was clearly heard that the question was whether he (Akash Deep) took an injection or not. You are playing a bowler in a Test match after giving him an injection, while a fit left-arm pacer like Arshdeep is sitting on the bench.
"Why didn’t you play him? Going in with a half-fit bowler is a crime. It is a cardinal, heinous error. Because your other two bowlers, who are meant to be racehorses, end up becoming workhorses,” he added.
'He will also break down." Mohammed Siraj's exceeding workload is raising eyebrows again
After criticizing the choice over Akash Deep's selection, he also slammed Shubman Gill for making his other paceman, Mohammed Siraj, bowl too many longer spells. Siraj's workload has often been ignored; however, it is taking too much toll on his body, as he has bowled too many overs in both Bumrah's presence and absence.
“Look, the most disappointing thing is that you keep compromising on your bowling again and again. Akash Deep, I would say, was a great success story. He won you a match, then got injured. And now you have played a half-fit Akash Deep.
"Today, it was completely exposed. The ball is going a foot wide on the left side. He is not able to bend. He cannot get down. He is trying to play football, and even that he cannot manage. He is clearly in discomfort,” said Sidhu.
“You will end up breaking Siraj, too. He will also break down. Because you only have three bowlers. Look at England. They played four fast bowlers. One got injured, and they still had three. Now you have just three, and not even a proper three. It is not even two and a half now," Sidhu points out to Shubman Gill to learn from the English management.
Indian pacers have picked 15 wickets so far at The Oval
With Chris Woakes being ruled out midway through the match, England were reduced to just 10 batters, as a result of which they batted till 9 wickets in the first innings. Indian bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna both picked 4 wickets each.
In the second innings as well, Krishna has three wickets, while Siraj gave India two early breakthroughs. Indian pacers have done a considerable job, but Brook and Root's 195-run partnership seemed to have already sealed the fate of the game as well as the series.
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India National Cricket Team England National Cricket Team India vs England Shubman Gill Akash Deep Mohammed Siraj Navjot Singh Sidhu
