Home
Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu blasted the team management for deciding to play Akash Deep in the fifth Test against England despite the pacer's problems with injury. Akash had sustained a groin injury during the third Test and that is why had ended up missing the fourth match in Manchester. The pacer somehow made his return to the playing XI for fifth Test, but was only able to pick up two wickets in the match.
During the Oval Test, India captain Shubman Gill was even heard on the stump mic asking Akash if he had taken an injection or not. Sidhu didn't hold back and questioned why the Men in Blue decided to play Akash even though he wasn't fully fit. He further asked why Arshdeep Singh wasn't included in the playing XI for fifth Test despite having recovered from the injury to his hand.
"On the English commentary, it was clearly heard that the question was whether he (Akash Deep) took an injection or not. You are playing a bowler in a Test match after giving him an injection, while a fit left-arm pacer like Arshdeep is sitting on the bench. Why didn't you play him? Going in with a half-fit bowler is a crime. It is a cardinal, heinous error. Because your other two bowlers, who are meant to be racehorses, end up becoming workhorses,” Sidhu said on his YouTube channel.
Siraj stepped up his game big time in 5th Test
With Akash not performing well and Jasprit Bumrah being rested, it was down to Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna to get the wickets for India in the fifth Test. The former in particular ended up bowling very long spells which resulted in him becoming the match-winner for the Men in Blue and clinching nine wickets. However, Sidhu warned the Indian team management that they will end up 'breaking' Siraj if they continue to play only three pacers in their attack.
“You will end up breaking Siraj too. He will also break down. Because you only have three bowlers. Look at England. They played four fast bowlers. One got injured, and they still had three. Now you have just three, and not even a proper three. It is not even two and a half now," Sidhu stated.
"And to be fair, it is not Akash Deep's fault. If he is injured, then he is injured. He was injured during the IPL, came back, and now he is as fragile as a touch-me-not plant. I think there have been around 13 changes. Bowlers keep coming and going," he added.
Meanwhile, India recorded a thrilling 6-run victory over England in the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. This win saw them level up the five-match series at 2-2 and it also saw them reach the third position on the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, pipping England down to fourth.
ADVERTISEMENT
