ENG vs IND : Sanjay Bangar supports key changes in form of Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna

Akash Deep was ruled out of the fourth match due to injury. Akash Deep, who missed the fourth Test with a groin niggle, found his rhythm easily as he seamed the ball appreciably on the greenish practice pitches.However he recoverd in time to replace Bumrah for the fifth Test at the Oval. In the second Test at Edgbaston, which was his first Test since Melbourne in December, Akash Deep picked up a ten-wicket match haul, including a career-best 6 for 99 in England’s second innings, extracting movement from a benign surface.

In the following Test at Lord’s, though, Akash Deep struggled for consistency, especially bowling down the slope from the Pavilion End. He picked up just one wicket in the Test, but the seamer-friendly conditions at The Oval could help Akash Deep get back in the saddle quickly.

Prasidh Krishna  has not played since the win in the second Test, while Thakur and Kamboj barely got to bowl after their first spells at Old Trafford.

In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj, the only fast bowler to play all the Tests, will once again lead the pace attack. Siraj has bowled the fourth-most overs among seamers this series – 139 – but hasn’t let his intensity down. India will be worried about his workload and fitness but they have little choice other than playing Siraj. Even then, India will have to make a call regarding the third seamer.

Apart from that, the bowling numbers at The Oval this domestic season are predominantly favourable to the seamers: fast bowlers have picked up 131 of the 150 wickets in five matches. So picking up Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna was an ideal choice ahead of debutant Arshdeep Singh feels former Indian selector Sanjay Bangar who gave his insights on the Team changes for the 5th Test at Oval.

India will also miss wicket-keeper batter and vice-captain Rishabh Pant in the match as he suffered a foot fracture in the previous match. Dhruv Jurel, who was the substitute keeper, will replace him. Moreover, Prasidh Krishna and Karun Nair come in for Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur.

Sanjay Bangar supports key changes in form of Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna apart from others in the Playing 11

Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar, agreed with the changes made to the Playing XI for the fifth and final Test against England at the Oval. The 52-year-old felt that Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna were the right picks and stressed on how this was a crucial game for the latter.

India omitted Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakyr and Anshul Kamboj from the Playing XI while Rishabh Pant was unavailable due to injury. Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Sanjay Bangar said :

“I think those were the right picks because Akash Deep has been quite effective, not only in England but also in the Test matches he played in Australia. At the Oval, you would want a Prasidh Krishna to play because of his extra bounce. A very important match for Prasidh Krishna because he was somebody who was not picked in the last match and Anshul Kamboj was preferred over him when he was fit and available.”

Akash Deep was ruled out of the Fourth Test at Manchester due to an injury. Prasidh Krishna after playing in the first two Tests in the series was omitted for the next two for Jasprit Bumrah who played at Lord’s and Old Trafford. India made four changes for the series finale against England in the Oval , Former Indian batter and selector Sanjay Bangar felt that the unavailiability of Rishabh Pant, the lack of a strong performance from the seam bowling All-rounder and the green surface on offer at The Oval played a role in the team changes.

“I think it is a combination of many factors, not one or two. So what am I looking at? 1. The unavailability of Rishabh Pant, who has scored a lot of runs in the series. He wasn’t available.

Secondly, maybe the Indian team would have thought of what the pace bowling all-rounder was actually giving them, and if he is not giving them what they are expecting, then I think they also see an opportunity at The Oval to bowl a few more overs of spin and not have that option of the sixth bowler affect the decision-making process.

“The thing about the green tinge at The Oval would have meant that any thoughts of playing Kuldeep would have gone away with that. I see the combination of all those three factors which have gone into the thinking of what combination India are playing,” Bangar said.

Right through the Five Tests, India have given greater preference for batting dept instead of playing five batters, a wicket-keeper and five frontline bowlers . That has meant that Kuldeep Yadav has not beeen included ina any of the matches, with Washington Sundar being considered to play the second spinners role alongside Ravindra Jadeja.