Akash Deep All Set to Return for 5th Test

CricDiary Desk: With Jaspreet Bumrah all but ruled out of the fifth Test in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, Akash Deep is all set to return to the playing eleven, after missing the Manchester game because of a groin injury. Akash Deep impressed with 10 wickets in the second Test at Edgbaston.

Reports suggest that India’s pace spearhead Bumrah will be rested as part of workload management. He has already played three of the first four Tests. While official confirmation from captain Shubman Gill or coach Gautam Gambhir is awaited, Bumrah’s absence is almost certain.

The fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy will be played at The Oval from 31 July to 4 August.

India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will also miss the final Test. Dhruv Jurel is set to take over the gloves. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) flew Narayan Jagadeesan to England as Pant’s replacement but the Tamil Nadu keeper-batter is unlikely to feature in the playing eleven.

The disappointing performances of Shardul Thakur and Anshul Kamboj in Manchester may lead to a reshuffle in the bowling unit. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav may be recalled to lend variety/ Arshdeep Singh, now fit again, is expected to earn his maiden Test cap.

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