Can Akash Deep’s ten-wicket haul at Edgbaston cement his spot in India's Test line-up?

Akash Deep’s fiery spells of 4/88 and 6/99 in the second Test at Edgbaston helped India beat England by a mammoth 336 runs and level the series 1–1. The Indian pacer had big shoes to fill, having replaced Jasprit Bumrah — who was rested for this game to manage his workload and avoid injuries — in the starting XI.

Deep made an immediate and massive impact, taking crucial top-order wickets with his wily swing and pace and helping India bounce back after the disappointing loss in the first Test. If not for India captain Shubman Gill scoring 430 runs across two innings, Deep could arguably have been the unanimous candidate for the Player of the Match award.

Many believe the 28-year-old should have been included in the first Test as well and could have tilted the game in India’s favour. After his heroics, the big dilemma now facing the Indian selection committee is deciding whom to retain for the next match at Lord’s.

Here, we take a look at Deep’s beginnings, struggles, debut, and stats to ascertain whether he can be a long-term solution for the Men in Blue.

Humble beginnings and struggles

Akash Deep hails from a small town called Sasaram in Bihar. Born into a family that prioritised economic stability over sport, his passion for cricket was met with resistance at home. His father envisioned a secure government job for him and saw cricket as a distraction, not a career.

But Akash was unwavering. Determined to carve his own path, he began his journey playing tennis-ball cricket. However, setbacks and personal loss hindered his career. With the Bihar Cricket Association suspended at the time, he had a tough time getting a foothold in domestic cricket. In 2010, he moved to Durgapur in West Bengal to play academy cricket with the help of his uncle. He then lost his father and brother within a span of six months and had to put his cricketing ambitions on hold to support his family.

Yet, even in the face of immense personal loss and adversity, Akash held on to hope. His journey is not just about cricket — it’s a testament to resilience, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of a dream.

First-class stats and India debut

Deep made his first-class debut on 25 December 2019 for Bengal during the 2019/20 Ranji Trophy season. He has so far played 39 first-class matches, taking 138 wickets at an average of 23.79, with best figures of 6/60. In just his second first-class game, he bagged six wickets against Gujarat on his way to 35 wickets that season at an average of 18.02, helping Bengal reach the Ranji final.

Deep made his India debut at home against England in February last year, in the fourth Test of the series India won 4–1. He returned figures of 3/83 in his debut Test innings. He then played two Tests each against New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Australia, bagging 12 wickets before the recently concluded Edgbaston Test.

So far in his fledgling international Test career, Deep has played eight Tests, bagging 25 wickets at an average of 28.40, with best figures of 6/99.

Conclusion

Since making his debut last year, Akash Deep has impressed one and all with his ability to swing the new ball both ways. He has a knack for taking key wickets early on in the innings.

In previous matches, Deep was a bit unlucky, bowling well but not getting the rewards. However, on a flat batting track at Edgbaston, his hard work finally paid off. In the first innings, along with Mohammed Siraj, he took crucial top-order wickets, grabbing four scalps to help India gain a healthy lead. Then, he bowled an inspiring spell in the second innings, running through the England top order and taking six wickets to help his team win the Test at a venue where they’d never won before. His delivery to dismiss Joe Root was arguably the delivery of the series so far — it’s not every day you breach the defence of one of the best Test batters in the world.

Though Deep hasn’t yet made a significant impact with the old ball, he has proven to be a genuine threat with the new one, consistently making things happen early in the innings. With more experience, his effectiveness with the older ball is likely to improve. India should continue to back him for the remainder of the series. His ability to swing the ball both ways is invaluable, especially against top-order batters.

If he can maintain his fitness levels and deliver consistently, Akash Deep has the potential to form a formidable pace trio alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. He could play a crucial role in helping this young Indian side win Test matches, particularly in challenging overseas conditions.