Zaheer Khan Picks This Indian Bowler As 3rd Pacer For Australia Test Series, Says, 'There Are Talks About 3 Seamers...'

Ex-India pacer Zaheer Khan has picked Akash Deep as India's third fast bowler for the five-match Test series against Australia. It should be noted here that the Men in Blue will visit Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which will be held later this year as both the teams will face each other for a five-match Test series for the first time since 1992-92.

Before this series, the Indian team management will try to find their third pacer if Mohammed Shami doesn't recover well in time. Akash Deep, who recently played as the third fast bowler in the series opener against the Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side, registered figures of 2/19 in the five overs that he bowled could replace Shami.

Zaheer has been left impressed by this youngster since he is quite confident of replacing Shami as the third pacer.

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"There is no doubt about that. If you look at the Indian team's playing XI and there are talks about three seamers, Akash Deep is the third. So obviously when we talk about Australia, about that tour, we could see Akash Deep part of the team," Zaheer was quoted as saying on Cricbuzz.

Akash made a dream debut in international cricket as he replaced Jasprit Bumrah in the fourth Test match against the Ben Stokes-led side in February this year. He registered figures of 3/83 during the first innings as he dismissed batters like Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Ollie Pope with the new ball.

Zaheer also compared his bowling style to that of Mohammed Siraj and highlighted how he targets the fourth stump line. He also heaped praises on him for bowling aggressively.

"Like how Siraj approaches it. He attacks the stump a lot fourth stump, off stump. The more deliveries you put around that on good length consistently, and it is important at the Test match level. Akash Deep has all of that and he showed he has that aggression needed for a pacer. He has good potential and if he gets a chance, his self-belief will increase and he will contribute to the team," he concluded.

Akash has played two Test matches till now, where he took five wickets at an average of 24.4 and registered figures of 3/83. He will aim to continue his sublime form and make himself a strong contender to get selected for the Border-Gavaskar series.