Jatin Paranjpe suggests changes to India’s bowling attack, wants Akash Deep to replace Mohammed Siraj

Former Indian batter and national selector Jatin Paranjpe has urged India to play Akash Deep in place of Mohammed Siraj in the third and fourth Test matches against Australia at Brisbane and Melbourne respectively.

Paranjpe feels Deep bowls a similar length to Mohammed Shami and he will provide a better support to India’s pack leader Jasprit Bumrah than Siraj. 

Akash Deep has made an impressive start to his Test career as he has scalped 10 wickets in five Test matches but the team backed rookie Harshit Rana in the first two Test matches against Australia.

Speaking to Rediff.com, Jatin Paranjpe said, “I feel extremely confident that Akash Deep will play in both the Gabba Test and in the Melbourne Test and he will bowl exceedingly well. He bowls lengths similar to Mohammed Shami’s and those lengths are the best lengths to bowl at. Bumrah will find an even more helpful foil in Akash Deep than he is finding in Mohammad Siraj right now.”

The former Indian player feels Ravindra Jadeja should also replace Ravichandran Ashwin in the final XI.

“They need to get Akash Deep in and maybe Ravindra Jadeja in for Ravichandran Ashwin.”

Meanwhile, Siraj was right on the money in the opening Test at Perth, returning with five wickets in the match. However, Siraj returned with figures of 4-98 in the first innings of the second Test but did not bowl at his best. Furthermore, Harshit Rana went wicketless at Adelaide and also bagged a pair.

On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah has picked 12 wickets in the two Test matches of the series at an unbelievable average of 11.25.

The third Test match between India and Australia will be played at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 14.