Akash Deep, the Indian fast bowler, will not be a part of the 2025 Duleep Trophy. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru from August 28 to September 11.
A report in the Times of India on August 13 stated that the 28-year-old bowler from Bihar, who plays for Bengal in domestic matches, will miss the six-team tournament. This is because of the discomfort he experienced during the recent Test series against England.
Akash Deep played three Tests against England and took 13 wickets. He was named in the East Zone squad last week but will now be replaced by Mukhtar Hussain, a pacer from Assam.
The reason for Akash Deep’s absence from the Duleep Trophy is not clear. Maybe he is nursing some minor injuries after the India vs England Tests. Akash Deep’s 10 wicket haul at Edgbaston was the turning point of the series for India and they won the match.
But he couldn’t keep up the form and fitness in the next two matches and took only 3 wickets. In one of the matches, Gill asked him if he was taking his injection at the Oval. Still he played well with a 66 run, as a nightwatchman, and played a key role in India’s win at the Oval.
India’s domestic season will see the return of the Duleep Trophy in its inter-zonal format. The red ball tournament starts on August 28 with Bengaluru as the host city.
East Zone will face North Zone in the first quarter-final on August 28. Central Zone will play North East Zone in quarter-final 2. South Zone and West Zone have already made it to the semi-finals.Ishan Kishan will captain East Zone in the Duleep Trophy. The squad includes: Ishan Kishan (captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sandeep Patnaik, Virat Singh, Denish Das, Sridam Paul, Sharandeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Riyan Parag, Utkarsh Singh, Manishi, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, and Mohammed Shami. Standby players are Mukhtar Hussain, Aasirwad Swain, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Swastik Samal, Sudip Kumar Gharami, and Rahul Singh.
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Akashdeep also spoke about his time under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching, saying in an interview with PTI, You aren’t aware of your capabilities. See, I was telling you, you can do it. You have to play with this dedication always.
In one match he took 10 wickets and hit a half century and won. After that he became famous in Team India.
He then said Gambhir believes in him more than he believes in himself. Gautam is a very passionate coach. He always motivates us. He believes in me more than I believe in myself, both in my batting and bowling, he said.
Under Gill’s leadership Team India drew with England 2-2. Team India will now prepare for the Asia Cup 2025, starting September 9. The ‘Men in Blue’ will play their first match against UAE on September 10.
