Indian pacer Akash Deep will not feature in the upcoming 2025 Duleep Trophy, according to PTI journalist Kushan Sarkar. Initially selected for the East Zone squad, which will be captained by wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, the 26-year-old will miss the tournament set to begin on August 28.
While the exact reason for his absence remains unclear, the report indicates that the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) may have advised him to take rest. Assam medium pacer Mukhtar Hussain has been named as his replacement. So far in his career, Akash Deep has played 40 first-class matches, taking 132 wickets at an average of 28.25.
Some #CricketTwitter news
Akash Deep will not be playing #duleeptrophy. Whether he has been advised rest by CoE not clear. East Zone selection committee has picked Assam's medium pacer Mukhtar Hussain.@BCCI @BCCIdomestic— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) August 13, 2025
Akash Deep faced fitness issues during the recently concluded five-match Test series in England. A groin injury sidelined him from the Manchester Test, but he made a comeback for the final match at The Oval.
East Zone 2025 Duleep Trophy squad: Ishan Kishan (c), Abhimanyu Easwaran (vc), Utkarsh Singh, Manishi, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Sandeep Patnaik, Sharandeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Kumar Kushagra, Mohammad Shami, Virat Singh, Denish Das, Sridam Paul, Mukhtar Hussain (Standbys: Aasirwad Swain, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Swastik Samal, Sudip Kr Gharami, Rahul Singh).
Akash Deep Finishes As India’s Third-Highest Wicket-Taker In England
Akash Deep enjoyed a notable outing during India’s recent tour of England, finishing as the team’s third-highest wicket-taker. He claimed 13 wickets in three matches at an average of 36.46, trailing only Mohammed Siraj (23) and the duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna (14 each).
His tally included both a five-wicket haul and a ten-wicket match haul. In the second Test at Birmingham, which India won by 336 runs, he delivered impressive figures of 10/187, becoming only the second Indian bowler after Chetan Sharma to achieve a ten-wicket haul in Tests on English soil.
He also made a valuable batting contribution in the Oval Test, stepping in as a nightwatchman at number four in the second innings and scoring a crucial 66 off 94 balls. India went on to win the match and level the series 2-2.
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