Akash Deep had suffered a hip injury in Lord's Test and missed the Manchester Test as a result.
Navjot Singh Sidhu has criticized the Indian team management for playing Akash Deep in the fifth Test match despite his injury issues. The pacer appeared to be having some difficulties while bowling in the second innings of the fifth Test at The Oval, and he was unable to play in the fourth Test due to a groin injury.
On stump mike, India captain Shubman Gill was even heard inquiring if he had received a shot to alleviate the agony.
Sidhu called the decision a "cardinal, heinous error" and pointed out that Arshdeep Singh should have played the game instead of Akash Deep, who was only partially fit.
“On the English commentary, it was clearly heard that the question was whether he (Akash Deep) took an injection or not. You are playing a bowler in a Test match after giving him an injection, while a fit left-arm pacer like Arshdeep is sitting on the bench. Why didn't you play him? Going in with a half-fit bowler is a crime. It is a cardinal, heinous error. Because your other two bowlers, who are meant to be racehorses, end up becoming workhorses,” Sidhu said on his YouTube channel.
Mohammed Siraj, who bowled extended stretches and took charge of the pace attack, was under a lot of pressure because Jasprit Bumrah was unable to play in the Test.
Sidhu asked the team management to keep Siraj safe, warning that if this keeps on, they will end up "breaking" him.
“You will end up breaking Siraj, too. He will also break down. Because you only have three bowlers. Look at England. They played four fast bowlers. One got injured, and they still had three. Now you have just three, and not even a proper three. It is not even two and a half now.
And to be fair, it is not Akash Deep's fault. If he is injured, then he is injured. He was injured during the IPL, came back, and now he is as fragile as a touch-me-not plant. I think there have been around 13 changes. Bowlers keep coming and going," he added.
Jasprit Bumrah played only three tests due to workload issues, while Akash Deep suffered a hip injury and missed the Manchester Test. Only Mohammed Siraj played all five tests, bowling over 1100 balls and picking 23 wickets.