A big update has come on India national cricket team fast bowler Akash Deep amid the ongoing Tata Indian Premier League 2026 (Tata IPL 2026), where he was to play for the struggling franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
However, the update is not that promising. The fast bowler is currently out of action due to a recurring stress injury in his lower back. His return has now been postponed by at least three months.
Akash Deep misses IPL 2026 due to injury
Akash Deep was supposed to play for Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing IPL 2026, but his lower back stress injury returned again and he had no option but to opt out of the tournament.
Later, KKR signed Vidarbha left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Dubey as Akash’s replacement for this season.
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The fast bowler first suffered a stress injury in February 2026 during the Ranji Trophy semi-final between Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir. Despite the injury, the Bengal fast bowler gave his best performance and took three wickets in the second innings, but this made the injury worse.
Akash Deep to miss Afghanistan Test, Sri Lanka tour; Eyes back on Duleep Trophy
Akash is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Center of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru. This time the focus is on getting it right. The medical team is taking extra precautions and not doing anything in a hurry. The 29-year-old is said to be doing only light sprinting and basic strength work.
According to a report by RevSportz, Akash Deep is aiming to make a comeback in the Duleep Trophy in September 2026, as his recurring stress injury in his lower back will take at least 3-4 months to heal properly and help him regain match fitness.
Given the expected timeline, the Bengal bowler will miss India’s upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan and the tour of Sri Lanka.
Akash Deep aims to tour New Zealand to make a comeback in India
If everything goes as per plan, Akash Deep can return from India’s tour of New Zealand later this year. The Indian cricket team is scheduled to tour New Zealand in October-November 2026 to play five ODIs, three T20Is and two Tests.
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This fast bowler has played 10 tests for India so far and has given a strong performance for his country, taking 28 wickets. His best performance came on the England tour last year, where he took 10 wickets in the Edgbaston Test and won the Player of the Match award.
India ready for a new beginning against Afghanistan
Following the conclusion of the ongoing IPL 2026, India will resume their international season with a one-off Test match against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur from June 6.
This will be only the second time that India and Afghanistan will face each other in a Test match in India. The last time these two teams played in India, the host team won the only Test under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane. India is coming into this match after a crushing 2-0 defeat in the Test series against South Africa.
Therefore, the team would like to make a quick comeback and get back to winning ways and the team management may try some new combinations at home.
