The Indian wicket-keeper batter, Ishan Kishan, will not feature for the East Zone for the curtain raiser of the Duleep Trophy 2025 as he hasn’t recovered fully from the minor injury that he picked up in the United Kingdom during his stint with Nottinghamshire. The selectors have replaced him with Odisha’s Ashirwad Swain. It has been revealed that the Jharkhand batter fell off an e-bike.

That was the reason why he wasn’t considered as the replacement of Rishabh Pant ahead of India's fifth and final red-ball clash against England at the Kennington Oval. This was why N Jagadeesan flew as back-up to Dhurv Jurel. Kisha’s injury doesn’t appear to be a serious one, as he could play for India A in the upcoming two four-day fixtures against Australia next month.

See Also: Asia Cup 2025: Why Shubman Gill should be selected in the squad?

The southpaw will now continue to go through the fitness assessment at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru of the BCCI. In his absence, his state team-mate, Kumar Kushagra, will be the first-choice wicket-keeper for the East Zone.

East Zone to miss Akash Deep in Duleep Trophy 2025

East Zone will also be without their fast bowler, Akash Deep, who has been suggested to rest due to his niggle, whose fitness assessment is likely to happen a few days later. He was on the England trip recently and missed the fourth Manchester clash due to a back injury before smashing a fine fifty as a nightwatchman in the second innings of the fifth Oval Test.

Akash Deep enjoyed a decent series with 13 wickets in three games, including a maiden ten-wicket haul during the second Birmingham encounter. Akash has been replaced by Assam’s Mukhtar Hussain for the Abhimanyu-led side. Riyan Parag will be the deputy of Easwaran. Their squad is comprised of Mukhesh Kumar and Mohammed Shami.

East Zone will start their campaign on August 28 against Shubman Gill’s North Zone. All the games will be played at the CoE in Bengaluru.

Updated East Zone squad for Duleep Trophy 2025 opener

Abhimanyu Easwaran (captain), Ashirwad Swain (wk), Sandeep Patnaik, Virat Singh, Denish Das, Sridam Paul, Sharandeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Riyan Parag (vice-captain), Utkarsh Singh, Manishi, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Mukhtar Hussain, and Mohammed Shami

After returning from a successful Test series in England, Indian pacer Akash Deep marked the occasion by purchasing a sleek new car last week. The 28-year-old expressed his happiness by sharing the moment with fans on his official Instagram account.

In his post, Akash Deep wrote, “Dream delivered. Keys received with the ones who matter most,” along with a heart emoji, highlighting how he cherished the moment with family and close friends. Fans quickly responded with congratulatory messages and good wishes, appreciating his achievement both on and off the field.

This new purchase reflects not only Akash Deep’s cricketing success but also his personal joy and gratitude. By sharing the celebration publicly, the fast bowler showcased his humility and connection with supporters. It was a memorable way to mark a rewarding week after an impressive international tour.

See Also: ‘Today, we smile in freedom because they stood’- Virat Kohli honors India’s Armed Forces on 79th Independence Day

Akash Deep’s New Car Celebration Paused:

Akash Deep’s excitement over his new car was quickly interrupted. The Times of India reported that on Monday, August 11, the Lucknow RTO instructed the fast bowler not to drive his new SUV on public roads. The notice was issued because the car’s registration process was incomplete, and it lacked the mandatory high-security registration plate (HSRP) and third registration mark (TRM). 

HSRPs are specially designed number plates with security features like laser codes, holograms, and non-removable screws, making them difficult to steal. Until these formalities are completed, Akash Deep will need to keep his SUV off public streets, ensuring compliance with traffic and vehicle safety regulations.

The report mentioned that Akash Deep bought his car on August 7 and got a stylish registration number by August 9. However, the RTO later discovered that the temporary registration and the official registration certificate had not been fully processed on the Vahan portal, leaving the vehicle’s documentation incomplete.

The RTO instructed Akash Deep to appear in person or send an authorized representative within 72 hours, bringing all necessary documents related to his SUV purchase. At the same time, the car dealer who delivered the vehicle also received a show-cause notice from the RTO, highlighting lapses in completing the proper registration formalities.

Akash Deep to Miss Duleep Trophy:

After a challenging five-match Test series in England, Akash Deep has been withdrawn from the Duleep Trophy 2025 squad. The Assam fast bowler, Mukhtar Hussain, has been named as his replacement in the East Zone squad, according to a PTI report. This move comes as Team India manages player workloads following a long and intense overseas tour.

During the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England, Akash Deep experienced discomfort, including a groin injury that forced him to miss the Manchester Test after playing at Lord’s. Although he returned for the final Test at The Oval, he struggled to find his best form. Across three matches, he took 13 wickets at an average of 36.46, with a standout performance of 6-99 at Edgbaston.

Indian pace bowling sensation Akash Deep has been a true revelation in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, where he picked up 13 wickets and played a pivotal role in helping India level the series. But far from the highs of the England tour, a rather unexpected controversy has rocked the UP-born speedster. Following his successful run in the five-match Test series, Deep posted a photo of a black-coloured Toyota Fortuner car on his Instagram account with the following caption:

"Dream delivered. Keys received. With the ones who matter most."

At first glance, not much seems odd about the picture. But if one looks at it more closely, his car is without a High Security Registration Plate (HSRP). In a massive development, the Uttar Pradesh Transport Department has come down hard on him and has issued a legal notice to the pacer for failing to incorporate an HSRP in his brand new vehicle. 

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UP Transport Department reprimands Akash Deep

भारतीय क्रिकेटर आकाशदीप को यूपी परिवहन विभाग ने बिना HSRP और बिना रजिस्ट्रेशन के फॉर्च्यूनर चलाने पर नोटिस भेजा है।
शोरूम का ट्रेड सर्टिफिकेट निलंबित ।
कार्यालय परिवहन आयुक्त, लखनऊ । pic.twitter.com/TTfzOzjAg2

— Transport Department, UP (@uptransportdept) August 12, 2025

Amidst this ongoing controversy, Akash Deep is not the only guilty party here. M/s Sunny Motors, from whom the car was purchased, also faces strict punishment. The dealership has been suspended for a month as it delivered the car without completing registration or fitting an HSRP. Officials claim that the car was handed over to the cricketer following inadequate registration formalities and have given the dealership 14 days to respond to this allegation. 

The car model which featured in Deep's post is worth 62 lakhs INR, according to the cardekho.com website. Upon closer evaluation, the authorities ascertained that Deep had been in violation of Rule 44 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. An initial inquiry conducted by ARTO Lucknow and the VAHAN portal records indicated that the vehicle's sale invoice was generated on 7 August 2025, insurance was finalized on 8 August 2025; however, road tax had not been settled, and the registration process was still pending. Nevertheless, the vehicle was discovered in public operation. The dealer has been allotted 14 days to provide a legally acceptable justification, and failure to do so will result in the cancellation of their trade certificate.

When Virat Kohli decided to retire from the longest format of the game just a few weeks before the start of the five-match red-ball series in England, many thought that the Blue Brigade would lack experience in the team’s leadership department and the batting line-up. The selection committee decided to go with Shubman Gill as the new captain.

Gill was excellent in terms of his first away Test series in England, a place where playing Tests isn’t an easy job for this national side. But he handled the situation pretty well. Akash Deep, the Indian pacer, who was part of the squad and played three Tests at Edgbaston, Lord’s, and Oval in a seven-week trip, was asked if they missed Kohli during the tour.

See Also: Rishabh Pant ignored as India's Test captain due to Virat Kohli? Report drops jaw-dropping truth

“See, it’s a team. In my opinion, whenever we aren’t in the team, someone else will come into the side after us. But the environment of the side remains the same or perhaps used to be the same. Because the team is not made up of one player. It’s made up of 11 players, and all of them remain so vital.” Deep shed light during the recent interaction on Aj Tak.

Watch: Akash Deep gives cryptic reply on Virat Kohli’s absence in India’s test side

The Bihar-born pacer, who has overall picked up 28 wickets in 18 innings at an average of 35.68 and a strike rate of 54.8, thanks to the best bowling figures of 6/99 in an innings, highlighted how the former Indian captain, Virat Kohli, enhanced the Test skills and mindset of the side in the last few years.

Q: You've played with Kohli in tests. Does the Indian team miss him?

Akash Deep: See, there are 11 players in the team, so it's not about one player. All 11 players are equally important. 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/kSCGPqGH20

— ` (@WorshipDhoni) August 11, 2025

“So, during his day, he took the side to the peak, and you know, the changes he brought to the Test side, and now Gill is here, and the success he has had in the recent series. So, everyone is doing a great job in their department.” The Bengal pacer addressed.

Deep picked up 10 wickets during their second Test victory at Edgbaston in Birmingham before picking up another three wickets in the four innings at Lord’s and Oval.

Recently, a five-match Test series was played between India and England for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The series ended in a 2-2 draw. The Indian team won the Test matches at Edgbaston by 336 runs and at the Oval by 6 runs. England won the matches at Leeds by 5 wickets and at Lord’s by 22 runs. After the England tour, the Indian players returned home. They got a few days' break, and after that, the Asia Cup will start next month.

Star fast bowler Akash Deep went to Banaras after coming back from England. There, he offered prayers at the Vishwanath temple. The Bengal pacer shared pictures on his Instagram account and wrote, “I didn’t ask for gold or silver. I only asked for a place at your feet.”

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Akash Deep’s Performance in England

The 27-year-old had a good series, taking 13 wickets in the three Tests he played. This included a match-winning 10-wicket haul in India’s record 336-run victory at Edgbaston. He also scored an important 66 runs in the final Test. He said it was a good experience because every pace bowler wants to play in England. Although the wickets were not as expected, the team put their heart and soul into every match to finish the hard-fought series on even terms. He called the series a great learning experience. Taking ten wickets in a match was significant, but scoring a half-century for the team was more important to him. While working on his half-century, his only thought was not to get out and to keep playing.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Akash Deep (@akash.deep969)

Praise for Mohammed Siraj

Akash Deep also praised Mohammed Siraj, who played in all five Tests and finished as the leading wicket-taker of the series. He said that as a fast bowler, Siraj is very fit, and the way he works hard sets him apart. Playing five matches in a row is commendable. From this, Akash Deep learned that being mentally fit is more important than just being physically fit.

Before this, he also visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi after the BGT 2024-25 triumph. There, he wrote on Instagram and posted pictures from his visit to the famous temple with this caption: “Grateful for every blessing that comes my way. Seeking the blessing of Kashi Vishwanath ji. Har Har Mahadev.” He believes that the blessing of Lord Shiva is helping him take more wickets.

One of the most interesting events from the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 took place at Kennington Oval between England and India when Akash Deep, after dismissing Ben Duckett, walked up to the batter and put his arm around the opener’s shoulder. The England batter handled the situation pretty well and went back to the dressing room calmly.

Many former players, including Michael Atherton and the former Indian head coach, Ravi Shastri, reckoned that these acts should be avoided. A week after the conclusion of the contest, the Bengal pacer expressed the words Akash Deep exchanged with Duckett on that morning session of the second day.

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“I have a good record against Duckett and have got him out a few times. I have always fancied my chances against the left-handers, and he is no different. On that day, he was trying to throw me off my line and length and had played several unconventional shots. That’s when he said to me that it was his day and I would not be able to get him out.” Akash said on Revsportz.

Watch: Akash Deep reveals reason behind send-off to Ben Duckett during ENG vs IND 5th Test

The wicket, which broke the opening partnership of the home side, worked for the Blue Brigade as the Ollie Pope-led side collapsed to 247 after finding themselves at a dominating position.

“The truth is, if a batter moves around the pitch and plays these shots, your line and length do get impacted, for you don’t know what he will do next. That’s what was happening. Also, England were off to a quick start, and we needed a wicket. We were defending a modest score, and wickets were critical.” The Bihar-born shed light during the same interaction. 

“When I got him out (smiles), I said to him: ‘You miss, I hit. Not always will you win. This time, I win. It was a continuation of what he was saying to me, and it was all done in good spirit,” Akash Deep concluded.

The Anderson-Tendulkar trophy for this year is over, but a few instances keep the memories of the series alive. It was some 1 v 1 rivalry moments that spiced up the competition more. In a recent interview, England opener Ben Duckett's coach, James Knott, highlighted the moment when India pacer Akash Deep kept his arm around Duckett after taking his wicket in the fifth match.

The action made by Akash annoyed multiple cricket fraternities. The fifth and the last match of the series was shaped like a final, after the fourth match ended in a draw. At The Oval it was a must-win game for Team India, as England was leading the scoreline 2-1. When the series was on the line, the Indian bowling line-up stunned the home team in London.

In the first innings of the fifth match, there were some intense moments between Duckett and Deep. The English opener was looking confident and tried to make some aggressive shots. Duckett even said to Akash, "You cannot get me out here." That comment from the batsman pumped up the Indian pacer, and shortly, he dismissed Duckett. A reply in style from the pacer. The controversial moment was staged in the middle when Duckett was making his strides towards the dugout. Akash Deep placed his right arm around the batsman's shoulder and exchanged a few words with a smile. That act from the bowler was heavily criticized.

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James Knott is not happy enough about the incident

"It was part of a competitive series but certainly needs a sanction to discourage young stars. At the same time, it doesn't bother me personally," James Knott said. 

Duckett was a constant threat for India throughout the series. With a century in the first Test and three half centuries, Ben Duckett emerged as one of the leading run scorers for England in the series against India. 

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has heaped praise on the Indian team for their spirited performance in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, reserving special admiration for young skipper Shubman Gill. India may not have clinched the series, but coming from behind to draw 2-2 has earned admiration from fans and cricket experts across the globe.

What made India’s campaign especially remarkable was that they achieved this in the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, with Jasprit Bumrah only being available for a limited number of games. Shubman Gill, leading a very young team, stepped up and produced one of the best batting performances we've seen in a long time. Gill amassed 754 runs in the series, topping the charts, and in the process, notched up four centuries in SENA countries after previously having none. England coach Brendon McCullum named him the Player of the Series.

“Incredible — Test cricket at its absolute best,” Kaneria said, as quoted by TOI. “There’s nothing that compares to the demands of Test cricket. It tests every ounce of a player's physical and mental toughness over five days. This young Indian team, without Rohit and Virat, performed unbelievably under Shubman Gill’s leadership. He carried the team on his shoulders and scored over 700 runs; it’s simply outstanding.”

Siraj hailed for resilience; Akash Deep’s knock called the turning point

Danish Kaneria didn’t stop at just lauding Gill. He also reserved high praise for Mohammed Siraj, whose resilience and commitment helped India fight back when all seemed lost. Despite being under pressure after a series of missteps, including a dropped catch at The Oval, Siraj roared back into form with a match-winning five-wicket haul. “Mohammed Siraj is a true lionheart. His commitment to the team is unmatched,” Kaneria said. “To play all five Tests, all of which went the distance, and to bowl with the same intensity shows his incredible fitness and passion. He carried the pace attack on his shoulders.”

See Also: 'He did not have proper..' - Mohammed Siraj's former teammate recalls early struggles after ENG vs IND 2025 Tests

Kaneria further credited key batting efforts in India’s series-leveling win. “The turning point, in my opinion, was Akash Deep’s 66. Those runs gave India a much-needed boost,” he remarked. “Jaiswal’s attacking century, along with late-order runs from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, played a major role in sealing the win.”

Harry Brook's wicket turned out to be one of the decisive factors of the final match of the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar trophy, where India made the 5-match series scoreline 2-2 after winning the Oval Test in a heroic manner. It was the bowling department that changed the direction of the match, that too without Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah was left out from the 5th match due to workload management. Which led the management to pick Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna to combine with Mohammed Siraj. Throughout the series, Siraj was the only constant figure in India's pace bowling combination. His strength of relentless bowling and never-die attitude became unmatched elements for the team. Akash Deep's performance was surprising and equally brilliant. And Krishna showed how to bounce back after facing lots of criticism day after day. 

How is the trio shaped like a formidable force? 

In short, three bowlers came with different abilities and skill sets and with one common target—win at any cost. In terms of economy rates, Siraj and Krishna were far away from the usual Test match-like numbers. But they kept faith in their strategy until the very last moment. They paid focus on length deliveries around the off-stump region, which forced batters to swing their bats. Whenever batsmen missed the sweet spot, Indian bowlers struck.

Performance trajectory and stats:

Mohammed Siraj

Who will lead the Indian bowling force when Bumrah is unavailable? It is a long-standing debate. Mohammed Siraj stood tall in the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy when India was without the service of the pace spearhead. The tireless seamer played all 5 matches of the series and bagged a total of 23 scalps. During the closing moments of The Oval Test, on Day 5, eliminating any signs of tiredness, the right-handed pacer delivered over 140 cases. After delivering 30 overs, it is never an easy task for a pacer to produce a quick, accurate yorker. Siraj bowled out England's last hope, Gus Atkinson, with a perfect yorker. 

Bowling stats of Mohammed Siraj:

India vs. England: 4/86 & 5/104 (The Oval)

India vs. England: 1/140 (Old Trafford)

India vs. England: 2/85 & 2/31 (Lord's)

India vs. England: 6/70 & 1/57 (Birmingham)

India vs. England: 2/122 & 0/51 (Leeds)

Overall, in 41 tests and 76 innings, the Hyderabad-born plucked 123 wickets at an economy rate of 3.57. 

Read More: OTD: Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 against India, Sri Lanka registered mammoth target of 952 runs

Akash Deep

He was one of the most underrated players who travelled to England to play the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy. After missing out on the first match of the tour, which was in Leeds, Akash announced his arrival with style by picking 10 wickets (4 wickets in the first innings and 6 wickets in the second innings) at Birmingham. He made headlines again during the final assignment of the series. In the second innings of the 5th match, Akash Deep went in the middle as a night watchman and scored 66, which is now the second-best innings played by an Indian night watchman. During the series, the Indian team management had to face criticisms for their obsession over batting depth. After Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, Akash Deep's crucial knock under pressure described his all-round abilities. 

Bowling stats of Akash Deep:

India vs England: 1/80 & 1/85 (The Oval)

India vs. England: 0/92 & 1/30 (Lord's)

India vs. England: 4/88 & 6/99 (Birmingham)

Overall, in 10 tests and 18 innings, the Bihar-born bagged 28 wickets at an economy rate of 3.91. 

Prasidh Krishna 

A highly talented fast bowler who has yet to reach his full potential. Prasidh Krishna has all the equipment in his arsenal a pace bowler wishes to have. But, due to inconsistency, he was often left out of the contention. The 27-year-old attracted heavy criticism mainly during the Birmingham Test, where he offered over a hundred runs in total and was able to take only one wicket. After being sidelined for the Old Trafford Test, Krishna again found the mojo at The Oval, when the team needed him the most. His combination with Siraj turned out to be a nightmare for England. Krishna claimed 4 wickets in the first innings and another 4 in the second innings—8 wickets in total in the series decider. 

Bowling stats of Prasidh Krishna:

India vs. England: 4/62 & 4/126 (The Oval)

India vs. England: 0/72 & 1/39 (Birmingham)

India vs. England: 3/128 & 2/92 (Leeds)

Overall, in 6 tests and 11 innings, he got 22 wickets at an economy rate of 4.72.

Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has come down hard on the Indian team management and captain Shubman Gill for fielding a not fully fit Akash Deep in the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval. Sidhu was highly critical of the decision, pointing out that Akash Deep looked physically restricted on Day 4, struggling with his line and bowling wayward deliveries as the match progressed.

The 61-year-old highlighted the pacer's fitness issues, citing his groin injury that had ruled him out of the fourth Test at Manchester. Despite this, he was brought back into the XI for the decisive Oval Test, replacing Anshul Kamboj. Deep bowled 17 overs in the first innings for 1/80 and followed it up with another 20 overs for 1/85 in the second, including the dismissal of Harry Brook. Sidhu questioned the logic behind restoring the bowling attack from the Edgbaston Test without considering the fitness factor.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sidhu revealed that even during English commentary, there were concerns about whether Akash Deep had taken an injection to be match-ready. “You are playing a bowler in a Test match after giving him an injection, while a fit left-arm pacer like Arshdeep is sitting on the bench. Why didn’t you play him? Going in with a half-fit bowler is a crime. It is a cardinal, heinous error,” he remarked.

Sidhu slams Gill’s handling of pacers, warns about Siraj’s workload

Sidhu didn’t hold back in criticizing skipper Shubman Gill either, accusing him of mismanaging the fast bowlers. He felt that Mohammed Siraj has been overburdened with long spells, especially in Jasprit Bumrah's absence. “Your other two bowlers, who are meant to be racehorses, end up becoming workhorses,” he said, warning that Siraj might suffer a breakdown if such a workload continues.

See Also: 'He could have bowled well' - Irfan Pathan criticizes Indian pacer ahead of Day 5 of ENG vs IND 2025 5th Test

“Today, it was completely exposed. The ball is going a foot wide on the left side. He is not able to bend. He cannot get down. He is trying to play football, and even that he cannot manage. He is clearly in discomfort,” Sidhu added, emphasizing how playing a half-fit Akash Deep has hurt the team. He further urged the Indian captain to learn from the English setup, saying, “They played four fast bowlers. One got injured, and they still had three. Now you have just three, and not even a proper three. It is not even two and a half now.”