India has suffered a significant blow ahead of the series-deciding fifth Test against Australia at the SCG. Pacer Akash Deep has been ruled out due to a stiff back. Deep has taken 5 wickets in the 2 games he has featured in the series so far.
“Akash Deep is out with a back issue,” confirmed India coach Gautam Gambhir during a pre-match press conference.
The 28-year-old bowled 87.5 overs across the series and took 5 wickets. However, his numbers could have been better but missed chances denied him. Thought the cause for his injury is unknown, BCCI is trying to manage his workload to get him fit in time.
Replacement Dilemma: Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna?
India now faces a tough decision in finalising Akash Deep’s replacement. Either Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna is likely to step in. Harshit Rana played 2 games in the series earlier. He impressed with 4 wickets in the First Test in Perth but failed to leave a mark in Adelaide.
India trails 1-2 in the series and must win in Sydney to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Gambhir’s selection choices throughout the series have already been under scrutiny, especially after benching experienced spinners Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin in Perth.
Australia’s Bold Call: Webster in, Marsh Out
Australia, too, has made changes, dropping Mitchell Marsh due to his underwhelming performance. Captain Pat Cummins confirmed that Tasmania all-rounder Beau Webster will make his Test debut.
“Mitch knows he hasn’t scored enough runs,” Cummins said, addressing Marsh’s exclusion. Marsh managed only 73 runs in seven innings and took just three wickets across the series.
Webster, a 29-year-old batting all-rounder, now has the chance to make an impact in his first outing.
Selection Controversies on Both Sides
Both teams’ selection strategies have been hot topics throughout the series. India’s decision to shuffle the top order—dropping KL Rahul lower down the order and promoting an out-of-form Rohit Sharma—has left fans puzzled. Meanwhile, Australia’s persistence with Marsh despite his poor form finally gave way to Webster’s inclusion.
India also raised eyebrows by fielding three all-rounders in Melbourne, leaving their batting order unsettled. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s promotion and the exclusion of Shubman Gill further disrupted the team’s balance.
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