India pacer Akash Deep has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test against Australia due to a stiff back, as confirmed by head coach Gautam Gambhir. The match is set to begin on January 3 in Sydney. Akash Deep has taken five wickets across two Tests in Brisbane and Melbourne, but he faced challenges due to dropped catches that limited his success.
Gambhir stated, "Akash Deep is out with a back issue," during a pre-match press conference. He noted that the final playing XI would be determined after assessing the pitch conditions. The 28-year-old bowler has bowled a total of 87.5 overs in the series, and his injury may stem from the increased workload on the tough Australian pitches, which can lead to various injuries for fast bowlers.
With Akash Deep's absence, either Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna is expected to step into the lineup. India currently trails 1-2 in the five-match series and must win this Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
In related news, Australia confirmed that all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will not participate in the match due to poor form, paving the way for Tasmania's Beau Webster to make his debut.