Akash Deep:Inspiring Journey of India’s New Cricket Sensation in 2025

 

Introduction 

Akash Deep, born on December 15, 1996, in Dehri, Bihar, is an Indian cricketer who has captured the hearts of fans with his inspiring journey and remarkable performances. Known for his right-arm fast bowling and lower-order batting, Akash plays for the Indian national team, Bengal in domestic cricket, and Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL). As of August 8, 2025, he is trending on Google due to his standout contributions in the 2025 Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy against England, where he took a 10-wicket haul and scored 66 runs as a nightwatchman. His story is one of resilience, overcoming personal tragedies, and achieving success against all odds.

Akash Deep Early Life

Growing Up in Sasaram

Akash Deep was born in Dehri, a small town in Rohtas district, Bihar, and raised in Sasaram. His father, Ramji Singh, was a government school teacher who wanted Akash to focus on studies and secure a stable job, like a Bihar police constable or a government peon. In Sasaram, cricket was seen as a game for the wealthy, and Akash faced opposition from his family and neighbors who thought it distracted him from education. Some parents even told their children to avoid Akash, worried they might follow his path and skip academics.

Despite this, Akash’s passion for cricket was strong. Inspired by India’s 2007 T20 World Cup win, he started playing tennis-ball cricket in his village, dreaming of playing for India. But Bihar had no proper cricket facilities, as the Bihar Cricket Association was suspended, leaving young players like Akash with few opportunities. Determined to follow his dream, he decided to move to Bengal, where cricket was better supported.

Move to Bengal 

In 2010, at just 14 years old, Akash moved to Durgapur, West Bengal, telling his family he was looking for a job. With help from his uncle, he joined a local cricket academy, marking the start of his formal cricket journey. This move was a big step, giving him access to better coaching and facilities. Initially a batsman, Akash switched to fast bowling after moving to Kolkata in 2012, using his height (6ft 1in) and natural pace to become a talented bowler.

Facing Personal Tragedies 

In 2015, when Akash was 18, his life changed dramatically. His father suffered a paralytic stroke and passed away. Just six months later, his elder brother, Dhiraj, died due to medical negligence after catching a common cold, as their small town lacked proper medical facilities. These losses made Akash the sole breadwinner for his family, which included two younger sisters. To support them, he took up odd jobs, like loading sand for ₹150 a day, while still trying to play cricket.

The emotional and financial strain was huge, forcing Akash to pause his cricket career for three years. During this time, he moved to Kolkata for his father’s treatment, where playing local matches kept his love for cricket alive. His childhood friend, Vaibhav Kumar, played a key role in encouraging him, convincing coaches in Bengal to give Akash a chance. Former Bengal coach Arun Lal later praised his talent, noting his strength, pace, and ability to swing the ball (BBC Sport).

Akash Deep Cricket Career

Akash’s cricket journey took off in Kolkata, where he joined the United Club in the Cricket Association of Bengal’s Second Division League. His raw pace and ability to move the ball caught attention, and he quickly rose through the ranks. He met senior cricketer Mohammed Shami in Kolkata, who helped him improve his fitness and increase his bowling speed from the mid-130s to long, fast spells

Key Domestic Debuts

• T20 Debut: Akash made his T20 debut for Bengal on March 9, 2019, against Maharashtra in the 2018-19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He scored 13 runs off 11 balls and took 2 wickets at an economy rate of 5.25

• List-A Debut: On September 24, 2019, he debuted in List-A cricket during the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Trophy against Gujarat, taking 2 wickets, though Bengal lost by 38 runs

• First-Class Debut: His first-class debut came on December 25, 2019, in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy against Andhra Pradesh, where he took 3 wickets. His standout performance was against Gujarat in January 2020, taking 6/60, helping Bengal reach the Ranji Trophy final 

Akash’s domestic performances were impressive, especially in the Ranji Trophy, where he took 89 wickets in 39 innings over three seasons. His ability to take wickets consistently made him a vital part of Bengal’s team, helping them reach the Ranji Trophy final twice

Akash Deep IPL Journey

Akash’s domestic success earned him a spot with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2021 IPL as a replacement for the injured Washington Sundar. He made his IPL debut on March 27, 2022, against Punjab Kings. His best IPL performance came against Kolkata Knight Riders, where he took 3 wickets for 45 runs. In the 2025 IPL auction, Lucknow Super Giants bought him for ₹8 Crore, recognizing his growing talent (IPLT20).

Akash Deep International Debut

Akash’s consistent domestic performances led to his Test debut on February 23, 2024, against England in Ranchi. Replacing the rested Jasprit Bumrah, he made an immediate impact, taking 4 wickets in his first session, dismissing Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Joe Root. This debut performance announced his arrival on the international stage (Wisden).

Since then, Akash has played 10 Test matches, including series against Bangladesh (September 2024), New Zealand (October-November 2024), and Australia (December 2024). His ability to bowl long spells and generate seam movement has made him a key part of India’s pace attack.

First Match and First Run

• First Test Match: February 23, 2024, against England at Ranchi, where he took 4 wickets in his debut session.

• First IPL Match: March 27, 2022, against Punjab Kings for RCB.

• First Domestic Match: March 9, 2019, in the 2018-19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Bengal against Maharashtra, scoring 13 runs off 11 balls.

• First Notable Run: His first significant Test batting contribution was 31 runs against Australia on December 26, 2024. His highest Test score is 66, achieved in 2025 against England (SportsCafe).

Akash Deep Recent Performances

Akash Deep’s performances in the 2025 Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy against England have been a major reason for his trending status. In the second Test at Edgbaston, he achieved a maiden 10-wicket haul (4/67 and 6/120), leading India to a historic 336-run victory—the first Test win for India at Edgbaston. His bowling figures are the best by an Indian bowler in England since 1986 (Hindustan Times).

In the fifth Test at The Oval, Akash scored a remarkable 66 runs as a nightwatchman, including 12 boundaries, forming a 107-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal. This is the second-highest score by an Indian nightwatchman, surpassing records set by Gautam Gambhir and others (Times of India). Former cricketer Sanjay Bangar praised his composure, saying, “Akash Deep wasn’t afraid of the situation and played with intent” (Times of India).

England captain Ben Stokes also commended Akash, noting his “ability to use and change his angles consistently and still be so accurate” (BBC Sport).

Akash Deep Career Statistics

Below are Akash Deep’s detailed career statistics as of August 8, 2025, presented in simple tables for easy understanding.

Bowling Statistics 

Format	Matches	Innings	Balls	Runs	Wickets	Best Bowling Innings	Best Bowling Match	Average	Economy	Strike Rate	4-Wicket Hauls	5-Wicket Hauls
Tests	10	18	1536	1002	28	6/99	10/187	35.78	3.91	54.8	1	1
First-Class	41	69	6634	3571	141	6/60	10/112	25.32	3.22	47.0	9	6
List A	28	28	1280	1029	42	3/6	3/6	24.50	4.82	30.4	0	0
T20s	48	48	1008	1379	52	4/35	4/35	26.51	8.20	19.3	1	0
IPL	14	14	278	548	10	3/45	3/45	54.80	11.82	27.8	0	0

Batting and Fielding Statistics

Format	Matches	Innings	Not Outs	Runs	Highest Score	Average	Balls Faced	Strike Rate	100s	50s	Fours	Sixes
Tests	10	15	1	163	66	11.64	303	53.79	0	1	20	6
First-Class	41	55	4	640	66	12.54	917	69.79	0	2	52	43
List A	28	16	5	140	44	12.72	120	116.66	0	0	7	11
T20s	48	16	8	84	17	10.50	56	150.00	0	0	6	5
IPL	14	5	2	25	17	8.33	14	178.57	0	0	2	2

Akash Deep Key Career Achievements

Below is a table summarizing Akash Deep’s major career achievements:

Achievement	Details
Test Debut	February 23, 2024, against England in Ranchi, taking 4 wickets (Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root) in his first session
Maiden 10-Wicket Haul	Second Test at Edgbaston in 2025, taking 4/67 and 6/120, leading India to a historic 336-run victory—the first Test win for India at Edgbaston
Highest Test Score	Scored 66 runs as a nightwatchman in the fifth Test at The Oval in 2025, forming a 107-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, the second-highest score by an Indian nightwatchman
Domestic Success	Took 89 wickets in 39 Ranji Trophy innings, helping Bengal reach the Ranji Trophy final twice
IPL Career	Debuted for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022, taking 3/45 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Joined Lucknow Super Giants in 2025 for ₹8 Crore (IPLT20).
Asian Games Gold	Replaced Shivam Mavi in India’s squad for the 2022 Asian Games, contributing to a gold medal win
Duleep Trophy	Took 9 wickets, including a fifer, for India A against India B in 2024, earning his Test debut against Bangladesh
Player of the Match	Awarded in the 2023 Ranji Trophy against Haryana for outstanding performance

Akash Deep Recent Matches

Below is a table of Akash Deep’s recent matches, highlighting his performances in 2025:

Match	Batting	Bowling	Date	Ground	Format
India vs England	0* & 66	1/80 & 1/85	31-Jul-2025	The Oval	Test # 2598
India vs England	7 & 1	0/92 & 1/30	10-Jul-2025	Lord’s	Test # 2594
India vs England	6	4/88 & 6/99	02-Jul-2025	Birmingham	Test # 2591
LSG vs GT	—	0/49	22-May-2025	Ahmedabad	T20
LSG vs SRH	6*	0/33	19-May-2025	Lucknow	T20

Akash Deep Debut and Last Matches

Format	Debut	Last Match
Test	India vs England, Ranchi, Feb 23-26, 2024	England vs India, The Oval, Jul 31-Aug 04, 2025
First-Class	Bengal vs Andhra, Eden Gardens, Dec 25-28, 2019	England vs India, The Oval, Jul 31-Aug 04, 2025
List A	Gujarat vs Bengal, Jaipur, Sep 24, 2019	Bengal vs Punjab, Thana, Dec 05, 2023
T20	Bengal vs Maharashtra, Indore, Mar 09, 2019	LSG vs GT, Ahmedabad, May 22, 2025

Akash Deep Notable Performances

• Test Debut Impact: On his debut in Ranchi, Akash dismissed England’s top order in quick succession, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure. His initial wicket of Zak Crawley was called back due to a no-ball, but he quickly recovered to claim four wickets in the session

• Edgbaston Heroics: His 10-wicket haul in 2025 was a historic feat, as no Indian bowler had achieved this in England since 1986. This performance earned praise from England captain Ben Stokes, who noted Akash’s accuracy and ability to change angles

• Nightwatchman Record: His 66-run knock in 2025, including 12 boundaries, was praised by former cricketer Sanjay Bangar for its composure and intent, making it a standout moment in his career

Akash Deep Family Life

Overcoming Family Tragedies

Akash’s family life has been marked by significant challenges. In 2015, he lost his father to a paralytic stroke and his elder brother to medical negligence within six months. These losses left Akash, at 18, as the sole provider for his two younger sisters. He took up odd jobs to support them while pursuing cricket. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he nearly lost his mother but managed to secure an oxygen cylinder in time, saving her life

Supporting His Sister’s Cancer Battle

In April 2025, Akash’s elder sister, Akhand Jyoti Singh, was diagnosed with stage-three colon cancer. While recovering from a stress fracture during the IPL season, Akash was by her side, handling hospital paperwork and consulting doctors. Despite his commitments with Lucknow Super Giants, he visited her regularly. During this time, he learned of his selection for the England Test tour. After his 10-wicket haul at Edgbaston, he dedicated the win to his sister, saying, “My elder sister has been suffering from cancer for the last two months. She is now stable, and she is fine. I want to dedicate this match to her”

His sister, Jyoti, was moved by his gesture, saying, “Such a brother is rare. He helps us a lot and doesn’t do anything without talking to us” (NDTV Sports). Akash also supported his brother-in-law, who was battling a nerve-related disease, by arranging treatment in Mumbai.

Akash Deep Personal Milestones

In August 2025, Akash celebrated a personal milestone by buying a new Toyota SUV, sharing the moment on Instagram with the caption, “Dream delivered. Keys received. With the ones who matter most.” The post showed him with his family, reflecting his joy in sharing his success with them

Personal Interests

Akash is a private person who keeps his personal life low-key. As of 2025, there are no confirmed reports of him being in a relationship, as he focuses on cricket and family . A fan of Mohammed Rafi, he loves singing old Hindi songs and often shares this passion with teammates. His mentor, Saurasish Lahiri, describes him as humble and grounded, never letting success change him (Times of India).

Akash Deep Recent News and Minor Controversy

During the fifth Test at The Oval, Akash’s friendly send-off to Ben Duckett after dismissing him sparked a minor debate. Duckett’s coach suggested it warranted sanctions, but Akash clarified it was a friendly gesture, and KL Rahul stepped in to calm the situation (Indian Express). Commentators Michael Atherton and Dinesh Karthik noted the incident but praised Akash’s competitive spirit (Hindustan Times).

There’s also uncertainty about his participation in the upcoming Manchester Test, as Jasprit Bumrah’s potential return might affect the team selection

Conclusion

Akash Deep’s journey from the dusty fields of Sasaram to the international cricket stage is a story of triumph over adversity. Despite facing opposition from his family and community, losing his father and brother, and taking on family responsibilities at a young age, he never gave up on his dream. His performances in the 2025 Test series against England, including a 10-wicket haul and a record-breaking 66 runs, have made him a household name. Off the field, his dedication to his sister’s cancer treatment and his humble nature show his true character. As he continues to shine, Akash Deep inspires young cricketers across India, proving that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.