With the highly anticipated five-Test tour of Australia looming, the Indian team management faces the daunting task of finalizing its pace attack amidst uncertainty surrounding the fitness of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami.
Akash Deep, despite his limited Test experience, has emerged as a beacon of assurance for the team. His impressive debut against England earlier this year showcased his ability to provide seam movement and control. Former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey believes Akash possesses the attributes necessary to succeed in Australia’s challenging conditions.
The selectors face the challenge of selecting five pacers for the tour, with workload management playing a crucial role. Even if Shami regains fitness, the team will require an additional pacer alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash.
The team management is keen on including a left-arm option, with Yash Dayal currently in contention. Khaleel Ahmed and Arshdeep Singh are also potential candidates. Dayal appears to be the frontrunner, as his ability to create rough outside the off-stump could prove valuable in conjunction with Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav.
Prasidh Krishna, with his height and seam-extracting capabilities, is another potential inclusion. The team management has invested heavily in his development, and his experience with the Kookaburra ball could be an asset.
The success of India’s pace attack in the previous Australia tour was largely attributed to the rigorous preparation provided by Rahul Dravid and Paras Mhambrey at the NCA. While the current crop of pacers may not have the same level of experience, they have been exposed to Kookaburra balls in India to familiarize themselves with the conditions.
The upcoming three Tests against New Zealand and Shami’s potential return to domestic cricket next month will provide further clarity on the team’s pace resources. The selectors must carefully consider the workload management of their key bowlers and make strategic selections to ensure a balanced and effective attack for the all-important tour of Australia.
