Who is Akash Deep? Meet the fast bowler from Bihar who left Cricket for three years, ends up making his Test debut against England

It’s a much-awaited debut for the fast bowler from Bihar, Akash Deep. 27-year-old fast bowler became the 313th Test player for India. All the hard work paid off for him when he received his maiden Test cap from Rahul Dravid in the 4th Test against England in Ranchi. His mother was there in the stadium when he wore the Indian Jersey for the first time.

30-year-old India Speedster Jasprit Bumrah out of 4th Test’s squad for workload management. Bengal Pacer Akash Deep replaced him in the Ranchi Test. Finally, his dream came true as a cricketer but the journey for this cricketer was not at all easy.

The wonder boy from Bihar wrote his own fate

Akash Deep was born in Sarasam, Bihar on 15th December 1997. His father Ramji Singh was a government school teacher in Sarasam, Bihar. Being a part of a middle-class Indian family he has no family support. His father did not want him to be a cricketer, rather than focus on academics. That time Bihar Cricket Association was suspended, and Akaash Deep was a victim of it. His father advised him to prepare for the government jobs.

But he has different plans. His uncle who lives in Durgapur, West Bengal only supported him for his cricketing journey. In 2010 he went to Durgapur, but things suddenly changed when his father passed away because of a stroke. Unfortunately, two months after the death of his father, his elder brother also died. At that time he was the only earner of his family; he left cricket for three years to help his unwell mother. Then he moved to Kolkata with his cousin for his cricketing dream. He stayed in a single-room rented house in Kolkata for a long time. He played tennis ball cricket to earn and support his family.

In 2019 he debuted for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. Later Royal Challenger Bangalore signed him in 2022 for the base price of 20 lakhs. Recently he took 11 wickets including two four-fers in two List A Tests against England Lions. His dream came true when his name was taken by the Indian Cricket Board for the fourth Test in Ranchi. That time he was playing for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy.