'He Always Wanted To Earn Name By Playing Good Cricket': Akash Deep's Sister
In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, India cricketer Akash Deep's sister recalls the fast bowler's journey to stardom.
Fast bowler Akash Deep, who took a 10-wicket haul and guided India to a record 336-run win over England at Edgbaston, grew up dreaming of earning fame by playing cricket at the top level.
'Akash Deep always wanted to earn name and fame for himself by playing good cricket. He was inspired by India's triumph at the ICC World T20 in 2007," the cricketer's sister Akhand Jyoti Singh, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, told CNN-News18.
With India trailing 0-1 in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Akash stepped up in pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah's absence to help India draw parity in the five-match series. He took four wickets in England's first innings and followed that with a career-best bowling figures of 6/99 to help India secure their first ever Test victory at Edgbaston.
Hailing from Bihar, Akash Deep's father, a schoolteacher, wanted him to focus on studies.
He then moved to Durgapur, a town in West Bengal, to pursue his cricketing ambitions.
With his dream taking wings, tragedy struck with Akash losing his father to a stroke and older brother to an illness in the space of two months. The right-arm fast bowler had to give up his cricket dream as he returned home to support the family.
'I hope he continues to improve (his performances) and keep doing well for the country," said Akash's mother who encouraged him to pursue his dream of playing cricket at a professional level. 'My blessings are with him. I am very happy today. I told him to keep performing and continue taking 10 wickets."
Akash made his India Test debut during the home series against England in February 2024 and made an instant impact with a breathtaking opening spell during which he removed Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley. His was also part of India's squad for the Bangladesh Test series at home later that year which they won 2-0.
His impressive performances and potential meant the Indian selectors picked him in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 and the ongoing England Test series.
Earlier this year, Akash suffered a back injury that put him on the sidelines for a significant period. He made his comeback midway through IPL 2025 for the Lucknow Super Giants.
'He (Akash) did have a back injury, but it wasn't that bad. He underwent an MRI and then started his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy. He has a lot of belief in himself, worked hard and was able to make a quick recovery," Akash's brother-in-law Nitish told CNN-News18.
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