Indian Pacer Set To Miss Final BGT 2024-25 Test In Sydney Due To THIS Reason
India suffer a setback for their crucial final Test in Sydney, as THIS pacer will miss out on the fixture. Details below.
Akash Deep is set to miss the final Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series in Sydney, after head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed the rumour of the pacer carrying a stiff back issue.
"As of now, Akashdeep is out (for the fifth test) due to back injury" said Gautam Gambhir.
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🚨 Akash Deep will miss the Test at the SCG due to a stiff back #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/AFm7Zsb6dy
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 2, 2025
The right-arm pacer will be a huge miss for India in the Sydney Test, as a place in the World Test Championship 2025 Final still remains open for both, India and Australia.
Indian Cricket Team need to up the ante, if they are to keep their slim chances of qualifying into the WTC Final alive, as they have lost 5 of their last 7 Test matches, withe the other two resulting in a draw and a win.
With Akash Deep now ruled out, India will most probably be re-introducing Harshit Rana in the Playing XI for the final Test. The Kolkata Knight Riders' pacer played the first two Tests, but was quite underwhelming.
India are currently trailing 2-1 in the series, and if they fail to win the final Test, their chances of qualification will be over.
Akash Deep picked only 5 wickets across 4 innings, as the Indian bowling looks depleted and has constantly failed to complement the ever-present brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah, who has scalped 30 wickets in this series.
Sydney is known for assisting spinners, and the surface at the Sydney Cricket Ground can become a hunting ground for the likes of Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja.
But if things go wrong, the legendary Nathan Lyon will leave no scope behind in dismantling the Indian batting order.