 "Emotional Akash Deep dedicates 10-wicket haul at Edgbaston to cancer-stricken sister: 'I want to see her smile'")
Akash Deep made a heartfelt revelation after bowling India to a commanding 336-run victory over England at Edgbaston on Saturday, revealing that his elder sister is battling cancer and dedicating his maiden Test five-for and 10-wicket match-haul to her.
Also Read | Gill hails 'magnificent' Akash after historic win at Edgbaston: 'Bowled with so much heart'
Akash, who had been drafted into India’s playing XI for the second Test at Edgbaston after lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah was rested due to his workload management collected 6/99 as India bowled England out for 271 after setting them a mammoth 608 to chase.
‘Last two months have been very difficult’
The 28-year-old, who had made his Test debut against the same team at home last year, had formed an ideal new-ball partnership with Mohammed Siraj in the first innings and collected 4/88 to help the Shubman Gill-led visitors collect a huge 180-run lead by bowling the Englishmen out for 407.
“My sister has been diagnosed with cancer and the last two months have been very difficult. I will dedicate this match to her. I want to see her smile and hope this helps.
“Every time I ran in to bowl, I saw her face in my mind,” the pacer said in a chat with the broadcasters after collecting the final wicket to seal India’s maiden Test victory at Edgbaston.
Family is everything!
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 6, 2025
Akash Deep dedicates this win to his sister battling cancer. 🙌#SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings pic.twitter.com/teMNeuYLMP
Personal challenges isn’t something new for Akash, who hails from Bihar’s Sasaram but represents Bengal in domestic cricket. His parents and neighbours, after all, weren’t supportive of him playing cricket at an early age.
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View AllLife would later inflict a cruel blow on young Akash with his father and elder brother passing away in a span of six months in 2015, leaving him as the sole breadwinner for his mother and two sisters.
It was only after he started playing red-ball cricket for a club in Durgapur, West Bengal as well as tennis-ball cricket in order to manage his expenses that his cricketing career finally started taking shape, with the pacer slowly making his way through first-division cricket in Kolkata before representing Bengal at the U-23 level as well as in First-Class cricket.
Akash had made his debut in the fourth Test against England at Ranchi last year, and had dedicated his three-wicket haul on the opening day to his late father.
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