Akash Deep to miss Afghanistan Test, eyes Duleep Trophy comeback in September

Published - 27 Apr 2026, 16:14 IST | Updated - 27 Apr 2026, 16:14 IST

Indian fast bowler Akash Deep is set to miss the one-off Test against Afghanistan after missing the entire 2026 Indian Premier League.

The Bengal speedster was ruled out due to a lower back stress injury ahead of the start of the season. He was set to represent the Kolkata Knight Riders, who were already dented by injuries to key fast bowlers Harshit Rana and Matheesha Pathirana in addition to Akash Deep. Rana missed the T20 World Cup as well after surgery for a knee ligament injury, while Pathirana has rejoined the squad but has yet to feature for the team.

As reported by RevSportz, Akash has reported to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) to begin his rehab. Hr returned to the CoE on Thursday, April 23, and is un undergoing early stages of rehabilitation. He is to gradually start strength training and running, but will not be able to start bowling yet. He is reportedly eyeing a return to action in the 2026 Duleep Trophy, which begins in September.

In this span, Akash is set to miss the one-off Test against Afghanistan, where hosts India are expected to field a second-string squad. Akash is also slated to miss the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, set to commence in August. India will expect that he will be ready for the series in New Zealand, where his strength with the ball could prove significant. The Indian team will play two Tests, five ODIs and three T20s in New Zealand.

Akash featured for Bengal in the semi-final of the Ranji Trophy against Jammu & Kashmir with the same injury, and picked up three wickets in the second innings in his team's eventual loss. The recurrence of the injury meant he had to sit out of the 2026 IPL.

He has played 10 Tests for India and has picked up 28 wickets, including a career-best match figures of 10/187 against England in the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Edgbaston in July 2025, including second-innings figures of 6/99 to pick up the Player of the Match award.