Akash Deep, cricket player
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The early days
Feb 25, 2024: The Indian Express
Akash Deep: Ranchi Test debutant lost father and elder brother… because both couldn’t reach a hospital on time
By: The Indian Express Sports Desk
Updated: February 23, 2024 18:09 IST
The journey from Sasaram to India via Bengal
Bengal pacer Akash Deep, who hails from Dehri village in Sasaram, first lost his father in 2015 and, six months later, his elder brother. Both of them failed to reach the hospital in time when they needed urgent medical attention. Years later, during the vicious second Covid wave, while he was in the Indian Premier League bubble, he lost his aunt and sister-in-law while almost losing his mother.
Over the last nine years, Akash Deep has gone through a lot. Trials, tribulations, fame, accolades. “Apne gaon ki sadak jaisi journey rahi hai bilkul, ubad khabad (My journey has been like the road in my village, topsy-turvy),” he has told this newspaper.
Tryst with Kolkata maidan
Akash Deep’s first tryst with Kolkata maidan cricket took place in 2012. He was in the city to get his father some medical attention and managed to play a few games. Back then, he used to be a batsman, not a fast bowler and the experience, by his own admission, was terrible.
In 2016, Akash Deep shifted to Delhi, where his elder sister lived. He stayed there for a couple of months before a friend asked him to come to Kolkata and play club cricket.
“Once my father passed away, the financial condition of my family was very bad. When I moved to Kolkata, I started playing local cricket, and was paid for it, which was quite new for me. Whatever money I used to earn, I tried to save as much as I could for my mother. But it used to be a nominal amount,” he had said.
From living with four roommates in a 12’x12’ room in Kolkata for four years to being able to play for the country, Akash Deep’s story is an example of human will overcoming obstacles.
Test debut
Akash Deep made an excellent Test debut on the opening Day of the Ranchi Test as he has removed Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope.
The Bengal pacer got his maiden wicket with England opener Zak Crawley’s off-stump went for a cartwheel, but he had overstepped. However, the agony turned into a delight after he found the outside edge of Ben Duckett. Then trapped Ollie Pope on a duck and knocked over Crawley again with a nip backer. Akash Deep‘s opening spell 7-0-24-3 has reduced England to 84 for 3 [on the first day]
As reported by the Indian Express, the 27-year-old was set to make the debut in Ranchi. Akash picked up 10 wickets from two red-ball games for India A against England Lions in Ahmedabad. Akash has scalped 104 wickets from 30 First-Class games, averaging 23.58.
He had set the nets on fire both with the bat and ball. On Wednesday, he bowled a long feisty spell. On Thursday, in a sparsely attended optional nets session, he wielded the long handle to good effect. He would cut and slash the nets bowlers emphatically and would care less to defend, much in the mould of his idol and Bengal teammate Mohammed Shami.
Watched on by Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour, was he trying to show his batting utility, should that add more merit into his selection? Later, Rathour was asked whether Akash Deep could get a look-in and he would say: “Anybody who gets into the Indian team has to be a special cricketer. He (looks) like a really good bowler who has done really well in domestic cricket. He has got a decent pace, bowls a good line, looks really good.”
