Akash’s journey to this moment has been anything but smooth. Faced with his father’s disapproval of his cricketing dreams, he had to navigate grief and responsibility early. After losing both his father and elder brother, Akash became the family's quiet backbone
Akash Deep with sister Jyoti
On a rain-hit final day, when most narratives were drowning in doubt, Akash Deep crafted one that soared far beyond the cricket field, into the heart of his family, where battles of a different kind were being fought.
Akash’s journey to this moment has been anything but smooth. Faced with his father’s disapproval of his cricketing dreams, he had to navigate grief and responsibility early. After losing both his father and elder brother, Akash became the family's quiet backbone. He played tennis-ball cricket to bring in money, endured a near career-ending back injury, and still showed up each day -- with the ball, with belief.
And when Mohammed Siraj nudged him during the match, “I even told Akash to take out the remaining four wickets”, it wasn’t just playful encouragement. It was a vote of confidence from a teammate who had walked similar paths of pain and persistence.
The 28-year-old fast bowler, calm in demeanour but roaring in resolve, etched his name into history by claiming his first-ever 10-wicket haul in a Test match, propelling India to a dramatic win against England. But in the dressing-room celebrations, behind every fist pump and back slap, there was a quiet storm brewing in Akash's heart.
“I haven’t told anyone about this,” he confessed after the match, his voice steady yet heavy. “My elder sister is suffering from cancer. It was diagnosed two months ago. She is stable now. She’s gone through so much mentally...I dedicate this performance to her.”
That sister is Jyoti Singh, his guiding light and source of emotional strength. Battling stage 3 intestine cancer, Jyoti is in the midst of 12 draining chemotherapy cycles, with two already behind her. Watching her brother create magic on the field from her home in Lucknow, she was caught off guard by the dedication.
Speaking exclusively to mid-day, she said, “We were pleasantly surprised,” her voice soft but luminous with pride. “When he said this was for me, I felt so good. It’s his biggest achievement... and it came at a time when I truly needed something to hold on to.”
A mother’s silent cheer
Watching with misty eyes beside her was Laduma Devi, their mother, who has weathered more than her share of storms—first with the loss of her husband Ramji Singh, and then their elder son, Dheeraj. Today, she divides her time between caring for Jyoti’s children and soaking in her youngest son’s stardom.
“We saw the match on TV. We were so elated,” she said with a simplicity only mothers carry—with a joy that doesn't scream, but wraps around you like a hug.
A victory beyond the scorecard
This performance wasn’t just about wickets or a scoreline. It was about a brother saying, “You’re not alone.” It was about turning pain into power, struggle into swing, and love into legacy.
In dedicating his feat to Jyoti, Akash Deep didn’t just win a Test match. He won hearts, his sister’s, his mother’s, and everyone who believes that behind every great athlete is a story of sacrifice, resilience, and unbreakable bonds.
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