Leg and Off: Should India consider playing Akash Deep in 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test in Adelaide?

One can tell Team India are in a good space because selection headaches of the good kind are dominating the headlines ahead of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A spirited all-round performance by the visitors has resulted in a valuable series lead and a massive surge in confidence, with fine-tuning being the biggest priority.

The upcoming match comes with its own set of challenges, the first and foremost being the infamous pink ball. India's only overseas day-night Test came at the same venue, where they were bundled out for 36 runs in the second innings. A lot has transpired since then, but pink ball Tests remain alienated in the Indian circuit.

The onus will be on the seam bowling attack to deliver, and make the most of the lacquer on the pink ball to trouble the batters. Obviously, the bulk of the responsibility will be on Jasprit Bumrah as the spearhead of the pace unit, but just as it was evident in Perth, the supporting seamers will also have to play their roles to perfection to get the act right.

Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy were certain inclusions for their experience and all-round skill set, respectively. This left one more slot in the bowling department.

Harshit Rana came across as a surprise inclusion in the squad initially, and then as an even bigger surprise when he was in the playing XI. The debutant, to his credit, performed in a manner that did not leave viewers missing Akash Deep. However, despite the strong start, there is still a long way to go in the series, and the pink ball being a key variable.

---

#1 Who can get the most out of the pink ball?

Both Harshit Rana and Akash Deep are capable of hitting the deck, and are tailor-made for Australian conditions. However, if their comfort or average lengths are considered, Rana tends to pitch it on length or in the back of the length area, while Akash Deep tends to pitch the ball further up and get the ball to move off the surface.

Their traits are particularly suitable against left-handed batters, with Rana accounting for the wickets of Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, and Alex Carey in his maiden Test. Akash Deep also dismissed a plethora of left-handed batters since his debut earlier this year.

As far as the pink ball is considered specifically, Akash Deep arguably offers a lot more threat on paper. The extra lacquer allows the ball to skid off the surface, and there is no better exponent of that particular trait than Akash Deep in the entire bowling unit. The batters could be caught unaware of the ball zipping through the surface, and given Akash Deep's accuracy, and ability to churn out unplayable deliveries at times, he might hit the right spot more often than not.

With sufficient pace, and the ability to move the ball around, he does come across as the more lucrative option than Rana. The pink ball's extra lacquer means that there will be assistance for two sessions, making the inclusion of a third 'new ball' bowler a reasonable ploy.

---

#2 Is it fair to read too much into their warm-up match performance?

The pair had the chance to showcase their ability with the pink ball during the warm-up clash against Prime Minister's XI in Canberra recently. Both had different roles to play and had to employ different methods as well.

Sharing the brand new ball with Siraj, Akash Deep kept it largely full hoping for some movement. However, he was a bit rusty to begin with, and slowly gained rhythm as he went along in his spell. The pacer accounted for a couple of wickets, one with the new ball, and one of centurion Sam Konstas towards the end.

Rana, on the other hand, embraced the short-ball ploy, and like Akash Deep earlier, was at the receiving end of Konstas' brilliant strokes. Although his spell might not have been the smoothest watch, his innate wicket-taking ability seeped through as he struck four times in six balls across two overs to drain the opposition of momentum.

Both bowlers had their moments of brilliance over the course of the contest, but with the match having a List-A vibe rather than a first-class fixture, it is unfair to use it as a criterion for selection. But, it was an excellent avenue for them to show what they can bring to the table, now it is up to the management to make their pick, as per what they think is the need of the hour.

---

#3 Horses for courses vs winning combination

The bowlers' workload management will eventually come into play given that it is a marathon-esque five-match series. However, to pull the switch as early as the second Test that too after a 10-day gap is not a heavy enough reason.

As far as tactical reasons are concerned, India would not have picked Rana in the squad or the playing XI, if they did not deem him capable of bowling with the pink ball.

Although the focus is largely on the conditions and the varied ball, the visitors still need a buffer in the bowling unit to do some of the heavy work with bouncers and one that can capitalize off the pressure building from the other end, both traits which the newbie showed on his maiden Test.

All in all, India cannot go wrong when it comes to their choice of third seamer. However, as things stand, Rana stands out just a little since the team already has two exceptional new ball bowlers who can exploit the pink ball. He also brings versatility to the table with his ability to break partnerships and put in the hard yards with the bouncer barrages.