As India gear up for the third Test against England at Lord’s, former pacer Varun Aaron believes the team’s bowling combination remains in sharp focus, with Akash Deep at the heart of it. In Aaron’s words, the 28-year-old is near ‘undroppable’ after his standout showing at Edgbaston.Following India’s thumping 336-run win to level the series 1-1, captain Shubman Gill confirmed that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will return for the Lord’s Test. That puts the spotlight on team balance, with Aaron suggesting that all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy could be the one to make way. “Jasprit Bumrah is definitely going to come in. Now, the only question is whether India will go with four fast bowlers or stick to three. Nitish Kumar Reddy is most likely to be rested. He is expected to make way for another player, as India could not fully utilise his skillset in the previous match,” Aaron said on JioHotstar, as quoted by IANS.
“I also felt he could have contributed a little more on the field. He is a quality player, no doubt, but he might have to wait a bit longer for a consistent run. With both the batting and bowling departments firing well, India have the flexibility to either bring in an extra batter or an extra bowler based on the conditions,” he added. But it’s Akash Deep who Aaron believes has sealed his place. The pacer picked up an impressive ten-wicket haul in the Edgbaston Test, showcasing impressive control and movement.
Poll
Is Akash Deep’s performance enough to secure his spot in the team?
“As for Akash Deep, you simply cannot leave him out. He is currently among the top three bowlers in the world in terms of new-ball averages. Much like Jasprit Bumrah, he can bowl whenever and wherever you need him to,” Aaron emphasised. He further pointed out that Mohammed Siraj would likely serve as the first-change bowler, praising his current rhythm with the Dukes ball, while hailing India’s bowling unit as a serious threat to England going into the Lord’s Test.
