Ranchi/UNI: Pacer Akash Deep replaced Indias vice captain and premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah in the Indias playing XI against England in the fourth Test which began in Ranchi on Friday.
Akash, the Bengal pacer, is replacing Bumrah as the senior pro has been rested to manage his workload.
Akash is coming into the Test after his maiden first-class ten-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy match against Bihar on a seam-friendly Eden Gardens track last week. He is more in the mould of Mohammad Shami with his upright seam and is quicker and tends to hit the deck harder.
Say hello to #TeamIndia newest Test debutant – Akash Deep ?
A moment to cherish for him as he receives his Test cap from Head Coach Rahul Dravid ? ?
Follow the match ?? https://t.co/FUbQ3Mhpq9 #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/P8A0L5RpPM
BCCI (@BCCI) February 23, 2024
Akash also had put up an impressive show for India A against England Lions, where he picked 11 wickets in two matches at 16.95 and it included two four-wicket hauls.
England won the toss and elected to bat first in the morning.
India are 2-1 ahead in the five-match Test series, and they would clinch the series by defeating England.
After losing the toss, India captain Rohit Sharma said he would have batted first as the deck looked a bit dry and had cracks.
? Toss Update from Ranchi ?
England have elected to bat against #TeamIndia in the 4th #INDvENG Test.
Follow the match ?? https://t.co/FUbQ3Mhpq9@IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/6YpNexdnsM
BCCI (@BCCI) February 23, 2024
The last two games were good for us and well have to play the same way. Proud of a lot of young guys in the squad, theyve taken responsibility and have taken the challenge head-on. One change with Akash Deep making his debut, he said.
England captain Ben Stokes said the first hour would give them an idea about how the pitch would play, but it was always going to be a bat-first track.
I am happy with the way we have operated through the series and looking forward to more of the same, he said.
Teams
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Ollie Robinson, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson.
India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.
Changes
England – In: Ollie Robinson, Shoaib Bashir | Out: Mark Wood, Rehan Ahmed
India – In: Akash Deep | Out: Jasprit Bumrah
