Debasis Sen from London
With Jasprit Bumrah unlikely to play in the fifth and final Test at The Oval, starting Thursday, the Indian team management is set to bring back a fully fit Akash Deep Singh into the playing XI. The spot for the third pacer remains undecided, with a close contest between Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh.
Arshdeep, a left-arm seamer, currently leads the race and is in line to make his Test debut. The 26-year-old has recovered from a hand injury sustained during a fielding mishap that required stitches and kept him out of the Manchester Test. During India’s optional training session on Tuesday, Arshdeep bowled with notable intensity and appeared confident while batting.
Akash Deep, who sat out the fourth Test due to a minor groin strain, is also expected to return. The Bengal pacer was impressive in the second Test at Edgbaston, where he claimed a 10-wicket match haul, including 6 for 99 in the second innings, extracting sharp movement on an otherwise unresponsive surface. Although he lacked consistency during the third Test at Lord’s, the seamer-friendly conditions at The Oval could suit his style and boost his effectiveness.
India managed to draw the fourth Test at Old Trafford despite Bumrah having a below-par outing, bowling 33 overs—his highest in a single innings. He conceded over 100 runs for the first time in his career while picking up just two wickets. The sluggish surface appeared to have taken a toll, prompting the medical team to consider resting him for the series decider.
Mohammed Siraj, the only Indian fast bowler to feature in all four Tests so far, is set to spearhead the attack once again after Edgbaston. He has bowled 139 overs in the series—the fourth-highest among seamers—and continues to operate with energy and consistency despite the heavy workload.
Captain Shubman Gill and Head Coach Gautam Gambhir face a tough decision. Prasidh hasn’t played since the second Test, while Shardul Thakur and Anshul Kamboj made little impact at Old Trafford. Given that the Oval has heavily favoured fast bowlers during this domestic season—with seamers taking 131 of 150 wickets in five matches—it is unlikely that India will field an extra spinner in Kuldeep Yadav. The onus will therefore rest on Siraj, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep to deliver 20 wickets.
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