Akash Deep is the latest cricketer to make his debut in Test Cricket for India in the 4th Test against England on 23rd Feb 2024. He has been waiting for his chance and when Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the test match, he finally got his opportunity. And did he make the most of his chance in the first session of the test match. In the first session of the test match, Akash Deep bowled 7 overs and he only gave away 24 runs but he picked up 3 important English wickets to give India the advantage. Akash Deep has taken the wickets of Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope. However getting to this point takes a lot of hard work.
Let’s look at the Unheard Story of Akash Deep
The Journey to playing for India
Akash Deep was born on 15th December 1996. He was not always supported by his family to take cricket as a profession and a career. When he was young his father Ramji Singh served as a government teacher in Bihar. He and his family were against Akash Deep pursuing cricket as a career over his academics and they wanted him to take a government job.
Akash Deep was struck by multiple tragedies as he lost his father and elder brother within a span of 6 months and the responsibility of taking care of his mother and 2 sisters was on him. There was a time that the Bihar Cricket Association was suspended and this resulted in many budding cricketers suffering and Akash Deep was one of them. The father of Akash Deep requested his son to give the exams for Bihar Police Constable but Akash Deep was determined to make it big in cricket. During the early days in his career , Akash Deep used to play in Durgapur in West Bengal and he used to get 20,000 a month for playing tennis ball cricket.
Akash Deep started his career in 2010 but at the start he wanted to become a batter. However his coach requested him to switch to become a fast bowler as he was gaining height. Akash Deep was selected in the Under 23 Bengal team but he suffered an injury that threatened to end his career. Akash Deep made his debut for Bengal in the 2018-19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Shortly after he made his debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as a List A cricketer in September 2019. However the most important debut for him was made on 25th December 2019 when he made his Ranji Trophy debut for Bengal. He has played 30 first class matches for Bengal in which he has taken 104 Wickets at an average of 23.06. This experience will help him playing for India. He has also played 28 List A Matches in which he has taken 42 Wickets.
Akash Deep when he was training to become a fast bowler worked with Ranadep Bose who was a Bengal fast bowler. In the 2022 Asian Games, he got the opportunity to represent India as he was the replacement for Shivam Mavi. He was a part of the ODI Squad In 2023. Akash Deep will look to make it big for India in Test Cricket and the start has been promising. His mother Ladduma Devi and his 2 sisters were with him when he was given the Indian cap to be the 313th Test Player for India.
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