Akash Deep replaces injured Shivam Mavi in India’s Asian Games squad

India have made a late change to their Asian Games squad as Shivam Mavi has been ruled out with a back injury and he will be replaced by RCB fast bowler, Akash Deep. Akash pipped Umran Malik, who was understood to be in the running to take up the spot.

BCCI said in their statement, “The Men’s Selection Committee named Akash Deep as replacement for Shivam Mavi in the Indian squad for the Asian Games Hangzhou 2023. Mavi is suffering from a back injury and is ruled out of the tournament.”

The Indian team will feature in the Asian Games for the first time ever in three editions, with all matches set to be contested in the T20 format. Akash, who represented RCB in the IPL, has played 34 T20 matches with 39 wickets to his name at an economy rate of 7.38 RPO.  

The Indian team will be prepping for the Asian Games under the watchful eyes of VVS Laxman, Sariaj Bahutule and Munish Bali. The NCA will be overseeing the two-week camp which will get the Indian squad members in Bengaluru.

Indian squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul Tripathi, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Shivam Dube, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Akash Deep.