In a dream debut, pacer Akash Deep starred for India, taking three wickets in his opening six overs against England in the fourth Test at Ranchi. Despite an early let-off, he dismissed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope before clean bowling Zak Crawley. England, opting to bat, struggled at 112/5 after 24.1 overs in the first session.
Akash Deep, stepping in for rested Jasprit Bumrah, proved almost unplayable. He initially dismissed Crawley, but a no-ball granted a reprieve. Undeterred, he swiftly claimed Duckett and Pope’s wickets and later redeemed himself by clean bowling Crawley.
England faced challenges with the absence of spinner Rehan, who returned home for personal reasons. Captain Ben Stokes confirmed Rehan’s unavailability for the remainder of the series.
Ranchi hosts the pivotal fourth Test, with India leading 2-1 in the five-match series. A win for India would secure the series, while England aims to level at 2-2, setting up an exciting finale in Dharamsala.
Jasprit Bumrah’s rest leaves a void in India’s pace attack, with Mohammed Siraj expected to lead. Akash Deep, a potential debutant, could bolster the fast-bowling arsenal. India, grappling with absences like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, handed debuts to Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel, and Sarfaraz Khan. With Patidar struggling, Devdutt Padikkal eyes an opportunity.
Akash Deep’s impactful debut adds intrigue to India’s pace options, emphasizing their depth and adaptability. As the Ranchi Test unfolds, India navigates challenges, aiming to secure the series against a determined England seeking a series-leveling win. The absence of key players and debutants’ performances shape the narrative, making every session crucial in this fiercely contested battle between bat and ball.
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