• Source:JND
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Bengal pacer Akash Deep is expected to make his Test debut in the upcoming fourth Test against England in Ranchi. India have released premier speedster Jasprit Bumrah from the squad for the game to manage his workload ahead of the busy schedule.

In Bumrah's absence, India will be left with the option of picking between Bengal pacers Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep for the match.

As per the Indian Express report, Akash is the frontrunner to get a place in India's playing 11 and make his Test debut as the team management and selectors are impressed with his bowling performances for India A against England Lions. He picked up 10 wickets from two matches against England Lions in Ahmedabad before the start of the Test series.

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Akash and Mukesh are the leading pace-battery for Bengal in first-class cricket. In 30 Matches, Akash has clinched 104 wickets at an average of 23.53.

Mukesh, who made his debut against West Indies in July last year, has played three Tests and picked seven wickets. He played in the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam but was only able to get a single wicket.

He was released from India's squad for the third Test in Rajkot to allow him to play for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy match against Bihar. The pacer grabbed 10 wickets in the match including a match-winning 6/32 spell in the second innings to win the game by an innings and 204 runs at Eden Garden.

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Currently, India lead the five-match series 2-1 after winning the third Test by 434 runs. The fourth Test between India and England will be played in Ranchi from Friday, February 23.

India’s updated squad for the 4th Test: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep.