Akash Deep, who is leading India's pace attack along with Mohammed Siraj in the second Test against England at Edgbaston, is unsure of returning to the playing XI for the third Test of the five-match series at Lord's.

Akash got an opportunity to feature in the starting XI after ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the second Test to manage his workload.

In Bumrah's absence, Akash made a strong case for himself by claiming four crucial wickets in England’s first innings. He wreaked havoc with the new ball, dismissing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for a duck on the second day.

On Day 3, Akash knocked over Harry Brook (158) to break the record 303-run stand that the English middle-order mainstay stitched with Jamie Smith (184*). He then delivered an away swinger to end Chris Woakes' time on the crease on 5(17) to return with the figures of 4/88.

Despite his stunning exploits and Bumrah's return confirmed at Lord's, Akash Deep's prospect of bowling at Lord's remains uncertain.

"We have only two days for this Test match, and this match is very important for us to win. So, I am not thinking about the third match at all. I believe that I have to put my energy in these two days. After that, I will consider it. The team will decide whether I will play or not. No, not at all. I don't know if I'll play. The team makes this decision. We get to know one day before the game," Akash told reporters after the end of the day's play.

Since making his debut against England in the home Test series last year, Akash's opportunities have been limited. Before the Edgbaston Test, the right-arm searmer played two Tests in a five-match series against Australia, twice in three home games against New Zealand, and both games against Bangladesh.

However, Akash remains unfazed and prepared to grasp whatever opportunity that comes his way.

"I don't think like that. I feel that when the team needs me, I have to prepare for that. I have to be ready. I don't think like that. I don't get continuity. I prepare for the time I get. And whenever I get a chance, I try to play with that mindset."

Akash's partnership with Siraj forced England to succumb to 407 and concede a 180-run lead. The 28-year-old opened up on the conversation he had with Siraj to reap success in Birmingham.

"In the ground, we were talking to each other when I was bowling from here, what was going on, what was not going on, when Siraj was bowling from there, what was going on, what was not going on and we were talking to each other that we have to keep the pressure and bowl in partnership," Akash said.

"Whether we get wickets or not, we have to bowl in areas and make runs from there. We will not give such runs. So, this was our plan. So, it was easy for me that the run was not going from both sides and I was able to bowl openly," he further remarked.

The tourists ended the third day at 64/1, extending their lead in the second innings to 244 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal (28) was the only dismissed batter, while KL Rahul (28) and Karun Nair (7) remained unbeaten at stumps.