"Bumrah will find an even more helpful foil in Akash Deep than he is finding in Siraj" - Jatin Paranjpe suggests changes to India's bowling attack
Former India batter and ex-national selector Jatin Paranjpe reckons that the visitors must play Akash Deep in both the Gabba and Melbourne Tests in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. According to Paranjpe, Akash Deep bowls lengths similar to Mohammed Shami and can thus prove to be an even more helpful foil to Jasprit Bumrah than Mohammed Siraj.
India went into the two Tests against Australia in Perth and Adelaide, respectively, with four pacers as part of their playing XI. However, while rookie Harshit Rana played as the third seamer, batting all-rounder Nitish Rana was preferred as the fourth seamer.
Speaking to Rediff.com, Paranjpe urged India to bring Akash Deep into the playing XI for the next two Tests against Australia. Giving his reasons for the same, the 52-year-old said:
"I feel extremely confident that Akash Deep will play in both the Gabba Test and in the Melbourne Test and he will bowl exceedingly well. He bowls lengths similar to Mohammed Shami's and those lengths are the best lengths to bowl at. Bumrah will find an even more helpful foil in Akash Deep than he is finding in Mohammad Siraj right now."
Asked about the likely changes in the Indian playing XI for the third Test, which begins in Brisbane on December 14, the former cricketer replied:
"They need to get Akash Deep in and maybe Ravindra Jadeja in for Ravichandran Ashwin."
Paranjpe also opined that Team India will need to score at least 300 if they bat first in Brisbane and Melbourne to bounce back in the Test series.
Team India pacer Jasprit Bumrah is the leading wicket-taker in BGT 2024-25 after 2 Tests
While Team India have come up with mixed performances in the first two Tests against Australia in BGT 2024-25, Bumrah has been on top of his game. He is currently the leading wicket-taker in the series, with 12 wickets at an average of 11.25. Bumrah registered figures of 5-30 & 3-42 in Perth and followed it up with 4-61 in the first innings in Adelaide.
Looking at Siraj, he is fourth on the list of leading wicket-takers in the series after Mitchell Starc (11) and Pat Cummins (10). The Indian right-arm pacer has picked up nine wickets at an average of 19.77. Siraj chipped in with five wickets in Perth and four in Adelaide.