Irfan Pathan, the former India cricketer, has suggested that if Jasprit Bumrah is given rest in the second Test against England in Birmingham, Akash Deep could be a worthy replacement. Pathan thinks the Bengal pacer could offer a challenge similar to that of Mohammed Shami.

Irfan shared his reasons on why Akash Deep deserves to be considered for the upcoming Test. Despite some brilliant batting performances in the first match, including two centuries from Rishabh Pant and first-innings centuries from Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, India fell short by five wickets.

The bowling unit received criticism after the loss, with all bowlers, apart from Bumrah, struggling to maintain a consistent line and length. As the second Test nears, there is still uncertainty about whether Bumrah will be fit to play, with the team management remaining cautious due to his injury in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“If Bumrah is not available, the obvious question is: who steps in for him? Based on what we’ve seen in the nets, Akash Deep is getting into his groove. I think he bowls like Shami,” Irfan commented.

Pathan also highlighted that Akash Deep’s bowling style, focused on seam and swing, could prove more effective in English conditions than the hit-the-deck approach used by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. His ability to deliver straight seam balls could create late movement, which would make life difficult for England’s aggressive batting lineup.

“His straight seam deliveries could pose a challenge for the England batters, particularly with the late movement. If you’re being aggressive, this can cause issues. We’ll talk about Arshdeep later, but I believe if Bumrah isn’t playing, Akash Deep should be the one to replace him,” he added.