Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan criticized Akash Deep’s performance on the fourth day of the fifth Test match against England at the Kennington Oval, London. Pathan said Deep could have bowled better on the penultimate day of the Test.

The Bengal fast bowler returned with figures of 1-85 in 20 overs he bowled on the fourth day. Deep was either too short or too full in his length and he was taken to the cleaners by Harry Brook and Joe Root, who added 195 runs for the fourth wicket.

Pathan said he was disappointed with Akash Deep’s performance. Deep’s numbers with the old ball aren’t that promising as he averages above 55.

“The one bowler I am disappointed with is Akash Deep. He could have bowled well. A bowler with a straight seam is very dangerous in the last innings, but that could not happen,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel. 

In the first innings, Deep had returned with figures of 1-70 in 17 overs he bowled.

Meanwhile, England ended the day’s play at 339-6 and need another 35 runs to win the fifth Test match. Pathan wants Shubman Gill to start day five with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

“Start with Siraj and Prasidh tomorrow. You just have a window of 13-15 overs within which you have to pick these wickets. If it does not happen in that window the game can finish earlier also. But it has been exciting and I am very happen as a fan as well watching. Test cricket is alive and kicking,” he said. 

There is no doubt that India’s tactics of playing with only three fast bowlers on a green pitch would be questioned. The Indian bowlers could not stem the flow of runs on the fourth day and now find themselves staring at a 1-3 series loss.