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According to sources, Indian pacer Akash Deep, who just had an outstanding performance in the England Test series, will not play for the East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, which begins in Bengaluru on August 28. Mukhtar Hussain, a medium pacer from Assam, has taken the place of the right-arm pacer who was initially included in the 15-man roster.
The 28-year-old Bihar fast bowler, who plays for Bengal in domestic cricket, will miss the forthcoming six-team tournament because of discomfort he suffered during the just-finished five-match Test series between India and England, the Times of India reported on Wednesday, August 13.
India Pacer Akash Deep Out of Duleep Trophy:
🚨 REPORTS 🚨
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) August 13, 2025
Akash Deep has been ruled out of the Duleep Trophy 2025 due to discomfort experienced during the Test series against England. 🏆#Cricket#AkashDeep#DuleepTrophy#Indiapic.twitter.com/a96OLfkvpE
Akash Deep took 13 wickets throughout his three Test matches for India in England. Last week, he was included in the East Zone team; however, Assam pacer Mukhtar Hussain will now take his position. Alongside seasoned players Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, and Suraj Jaiswal, Akash was supposed to spearhead the East Zone pace attack.
With a ten-wicket haul in India's decisive 336-run triumph at Birmingham and a vital half-century as a nightwatcher in the Oval Test, the 28-year-old has been in outstanding red-ball form. He has not yet given an official explanation for his absence, but this time he will be observing the competition from the sidelines.
In his 40 first-class games thus far, Mukhtar has scored 580 runs with the bat in 61 innings while also dismissing 132 batters. Mohammed Shami will spearhead the bowling attack for the Ishan Kishan-led team in Akash's absence, with Bengal pacer Mukesh Kumar providing backup.
This season's Duleep Trophy, which kicks off the 2025–2026 domestic calendar, has a six-team zonal format. At the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground, the East Zone will play the North Zone in the quarterfinal. The victor will then play South Zone in the semi-final.
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