Gargi Raut at Old Trafford
India’s bowling attack has once again come under the spotlight ahead of the fourth Test against England, with injuries, rotation plans, and workload concerns leaving the line-up wide open.
The series has already seen major shifts. India began with a disappointing five-wicket loss in Leeds, where Jasprit Bumrah stood out with a five-for, but the rest of the attack lacked bite. Prasidh Krishna was expensive, Mohammed Siraj was steady but not threatening, and India failed to take 20 wickets. That quickly changed in the second Test at Edgbaston, where Akash Deep’s debut heroics – 10 wickets in the match – powered India to a statement win, even in Bumrah’s absence.
By the third Test, the pace attack looked settled. Bumrah returned, Siraj maintained consistency, and Akash Deep continued to impress. But a groin injury to Akash at Lord’s and a training injury to Arshdeep Singh have now thrown the plans into disarray. With Siraj having bowled over 110 overs this series, and Bumrah being managed carefully, the focus turned sharply to Akash’s fitness on match day minus two.
The Indian team began their practice at 9:30 AM with intense fielding drills. But Akash was notably absent from the early action. All eyes were on him as he eventually walked out to the centre wicket, skipping fielding drills entirely. Under the watch of bowling coach Morne Morkel and the team physio, Akash underwent what looked like a 20–30-minute bowling fitness test.
He bowled from both ends, but his effort level was clearly short of full intensity. Morkel stood behind the stumps, carefully observing every delivery. Once it ended, he didn’t join the net session either. Instead, it was Anshul Kamboj who bowled full tilt in the nets, alongside Bumrah, Siraj, and Shardul Thakur. Akash, meanwhile, climbed the dressing room stairs slowly, visibly struggling and needing support. The spring in his step was missing.
At this stage, his inclusion in the playing XI looks uncertain. While there’s hope he recovers in time, signs from practice suggest otherwise. With Kamboj being tested at full intensity, India may already be preparing for life without Akash in the fourth Test.
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