After playing a crucial role in helping India level the five-Test series against England, pacer Akash Deep has been ruled out of the Duleep Trophy 2025. Ishan Kishan-led East Zone will be without the services of Deep who took 13 wickets from three Tests at an average of 36.46.
As per a report by PTI, it is no clarity over whether Deep has been advised by the Centre of Excellence (formerly National Cricket Academy) in Bengaluru. During the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, Deep suffered a groin injury which ruled him out of the fifth Test. Also, he was hit on the leg trying to stop the ball on follow-through. Skipper Shubman Gill was heard on stump mic on Day 4 of The Oval Test whether he has returned after taking a painkiller injection as he needed to rotate the pacers.
Akash Deep's replacement
One of the standbys, Assam's pace-bowling all-rounder Mukhtar Hussain has been picked as Deep's replacement. The 26-year-old has 132 wickets from 40 first-class games at an average of 28.25, including six five-wicket hauls. With the bat, he has 580 runs from 61 innings, including a half-century.
East Zone's star-studded pace attack
Despite Deep getting ruled out, East Zone’s fast-bowling stocks are not depleted. Among prominent pacers, they have the services of Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar who could be seen sharing the new ball when East Zone go up against Gill-led North Zone on August 28. Both Shami and Mukesh have a point to prove ahead of the two-Test series against West Indies at home. While fitness is the main concern for Shami, Mukesh is waiting for a chance for comeback as his last Test appearance was against England at home last year.
East Zone’s updated squad -
Ishan Kishan (capt), Abhimanyu Easwaran (vc), Sandeep Patnaik, Virat Singh, Denish Das, Sridam Paul, Sharandeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Riyan Parag, Utkarsh Singh, Manishi, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Mukhtar Hussain