Akash Deep Dedicates Test Victory to Sister Battling Cancer

Emotional Tribute Amidst Sporting Triumph

In a heartfelt moment, Akash Deep expressed that thoughts of his sister, who has been fighting cancer for the last two months, filled his mind every time he held the ball. This emotional dedication came after his remarkable performance in India's significant Test victory against England, where he took 10 wickets, contributing to a 336-run win at Edgbaston.

The 28-year-old speedster from Bengal made a grand entrance onto the international stage with this outstanding display, especially on a pitch that was largely unfavorable for bowlers.

Reflecting on his sister's health, Akash shared, "I haven't discussed this with anyone, but my sister was diagnosed with cancer two months ago. She will be thrilled with my performance, and I hope it brings her some joy." He spoke about this emotional dedication during an interview with Cheteshwar Pujara on 'Jio Hotstar'.

He continued, "Every time I picked up the ball, her image crossed my mind. This performance is for her. I want to say, 'Sis, we are all here for you.'"

Discussing the match strategy, Akash noted that his plans were executed perfectly. He aimed to hit the seam on hard lengths to allow the ball to move effectively. For Joe Root, he focused on bowling from wide off the crease to create an outward shape, while for Harry Brook, he targeted a fuller length to exploit his backfoot stance.

Living in the moment, Akash is eager to relish his match-winning performance without dwelling on the upcoming Test at the historic Lord's cricket ground scheduled from July 10-14. He remarked, "I haven't formulated a game plan for Lord's yet, but it will likely be similar to what I did here. Some days it will work, and some days it won't. Our focus should be on our strengths and trusting our processes."