Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said that Bengal pacer Akash Deep is a talented bowler and he is someone to watch out for. However, Ganguly added that the 27-year-old can bowl as quickly as Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami – in the high 140s (kph) as well. Akash Deep has been picked in the Indian squad for the first Test against Bangladesh as well, which begins at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in
Chennai from September 19. He claimed nine wickets for India A against India B in the first-round match of the 2024 Duleep Trophy at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru as well.
Speaking at an event in Kolkata, Ganguly said (as quoted by PTI): “Akash Deep is an outstanding young fast bowler. He runs in, bowls quick, and will bowl for long periods. He is fit, I’ve seen him play for Bengal over a long period of time, taking wickets. He will be as quick as Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, hitting high 140s. He is one to watch out for.”
However, he made his Test debut in the fourth Test against England in Ranchi in February this year and scalped three big wickets – Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope as well. He also has the experience of 32 first-class matches in which he has picked up 116 wickets at an average of 22.86, with five five-fers and one ten-wicket match haul. While Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah have been added to the Indian squad for the first Test against Bangladesh, Shami remains unavailable as he
is recovering from his ankle surgery.
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“I know Mohammed Shami is missing because of injury, but he will be back very soon since India is going to Australia. It’s still a very good attack,” the 52-year-old former India batter commented.
However, he also stated that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has the potential to be an all-time great in Tests. The 26-year-old returned to international cricket during the 2024 T20 World Cup and also featured in the white-ball series in Sri Lanka as well after being out of action for more than a year due to a life-threatening injury.
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“He will be an all-time great in Tests if he keeps performing like this. For me, he needs to get better in the shorter formats. With the talent he has, I’m sure with time, he will become one of the best.”I consider Rishabh Pant one of India’s best Test batsmen. I’m not surprised that he’s back in the side, and he will continue to play for India in Tests,” the former India captain added.
“I am looking forward to their tour to Australia; that, for me, will be the real test for the squad. Then, when they tour England in July, these are the two most important tours, to be honest. I think the pace bowling department, with Bumrah and Siraj, and once Shami comes back, will be strong,” he concluded.
