Michael Vaughan hails Akash Deep after India’s win at Edgbaston, questions his absence at Headingley

Former England captain Michael Vaughan showered praise on Akash Deep after India’s mammoth win of 336 runs at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Sunday. Deep registered impressive figures of 10-187, which is the best spell by an Indian bowler in English conditions, while playing his first match of the series.

The right arm pacer bagged 6-99 in the second innings after taking four wickets in the first essay. Thus, the Bengal fast bowler played an instrumental role in helping India level the series.

Michael Vaughan questioned Deep’s absence from India’s playing 11 in the opening Test match at Leeds, Headingley, which India had lost by five wickets. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna had failed to provide support to Jasprit Bumrah in the first innings.

Vaughan noted that the trio of Siraj, Deep and Bumrah would make a potent bowling line-up.

“Sometimes when you lose your star bowler, it can inspire the team, they knew they had to step up. Akash Deep, I watched him this week, and I thought, why wasn’t he at Headingley? He was a perfect Headingley-style bowler. Let’s be honest, India’s seamers this week, were better than England seamers. They found that extra bit of zip. I’m intrigued to see where this series goes from here because Bumrah back into this side with Siraj and Akash Deep. Boy, it’s a trio that will be very difficult to face,” Vaughan said on Cricbuzz.

On the other hand, Vaughan hailed Shubman Gill as a batter as well as a leader after there were questions raised on India’s selection when they left out Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav.

“All the talk was the team selection, leaving out Kuldeep Yadav, there is no Jasprit Bumrah, you are 0-1 down in the series, it is your second Test as captain, there has been a few question marks about his captaincy in that first game, and all of a sudden, he has produced a masterclass. Not just a masterclass with batting, I thought in terms of his leadership, he looked every ounce of a captain this week,” he added.

Gill starred with the bat as he aggregated a total of 430 runs in the match and breathed down the neck of English bowlers. Vaughan said England bowlers would need to find a way to dismissGill.

“After Leeds, I thought England would dominate this series. Realistically, I would say that India have got their foot in front, because Bumrah comes back in, and their history at Lord’s is a good one. England are probably at that stage where they think it is worth a gamble (on playing both Archer and Atkinson). They have got to find a new method of trying to get Shubman out, because at the minute, he looks rock solid. If he carries on with that flow, I think England are in deep trouble,” Vaughan said of England’s playing XI for the third Test.

The third Test match between India and England will be played at Lord’s, London from 10th July onwards.