Akash Deep stays away from workload debate ahead of home Test series

India fast bowler Akash Deep stayed away from the workload management debate on Saturday, August 30. The fast bowler, who was being felicitated by the Cricket Association of Bengal for his sensational outing in the Test series against England, said that picking and resting fast bowlers in the playing XI was the team management's call and he had nothing to do with it.

Akash Deep had to skip the Duleep Trophy due to an impact injury that he suffered during the final Test against England at The Oval. The fast bowler is set to start training from August 31, in the build-up to the home Test season, where India play West Indies and South Africa.

"I will start bowling from tomorrow," Akash Deep told PTI in an interview on Saturday.

"I'm feeling good. I have been playing constantly for six months so the body needed a bit of rest," he added.

The workhorse bowled a total of 109.1 overs in the series, where he played three Test matches. Only Jasprit Bumrah (119.4) and Mohammed Siraj (185.3) bowled more than Akash Deep on the tour.

Quizzed on the sensitive topic of workload management, Akash Deep tried to steer clear of making any off-the-cuff remark.

"It's not in my hands. It depends on the team staff and physios, they manage these things. They follow a process, it's in their hands."

He also sidestepped when asked for his take on Jasprit Bumrah being allowed to take part in only three of the five Tests on the advice from the strength and conditioning coaches and physios.

"It's a team game. We are part of a team. We don't think about who's playing or not. Whoever gets to play is focused on winning the match."

As India build for the home Test season, which begins shortly after the Asia Cup 2025, onus will be on Akash Deep to settle his place in the Test line-up. The Bengal pacer is not in the mix of the other two formats and would hope to stamp his authority with some good spells in the coming months.

If the England series is anything to go by, Akash Deep is not just a fast bowler but one of the handy lower-order batters that India have in their line-up. His 66 off 94 balls in the second innings of the final Test against England should help him get settled in the Shubman Gill led side.