Akash Deep's Emotional 10-Wicket Haul Leads India to Historic Victory Over England
Akash Deep's Personal Triumph in Edgbaston
In a remarkable display of skill, Akash Deep achieved a stunning 10-wicket haul during India's significant win against England at Edgbaston. This victory was not only a milestone in his career but also a deeply personal moment, as his sister, Akhand Jyoti Singh, who has been fighting cancer for the past two months, experienced immense joy and pride.
"Akash dedicated his victory to me, and I feel very proud of him... We were overjoyed when he took 10 wickets. We were all clapping here. I did not remember my sadness at all when he took wickets," she shared.
A Heartfelt Dedication
After the match, Akash revealed that he had kept his sister's illness a secret, focusing solely on making her happy through his performance. He stated, "The biggest thing is that I have not told anyone yet. My elder sister has been suffering from cancer for the last two months. She is stable now. She is fine. She will be the happiest. She has been going through this mentally for the last two months."
He added, "I was playing this match for her. I have to make her happy with this match."
Proud Family Moments
Akash's mother, Laddooma Devi, expressed her pride in her son's achievement, describing it as the fulfillment of a long-held dream. She remarked, "I feel very proud... I am very happy... It was my dream that he should play for the Indian team... Maybe Akash takes 10-10 wickets like this. He should play like this for India in the future."
India's Historic Win at Edgbaston
In the match, England chose to field first. After losing KL Rahul (2) early, India found stability through an 80-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal (87 off 107 balls, including 13 fours) and Karun Nair (31 off 50 balls, with five fours). Captain Shubman Gill formed crucial partnerships, scoring 269 runs off 387 balls, including 30 fours and three sixes, leading India to a total of 587 runs.
Shoaib Bashir (3/167) was the standout bowler for England, while Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue each took two wickets.
In England's first innings, they struggled at 84/5, but a remarkable 303-run partnership between Harry Brook (158 off 234 balls, with 17 fours and a six) and Jamie Smith (184* off 207 balls, with 21 fours and four sixes) turned the tide. However, Siraj (6/70) and Akash Deep (4/88) managed to take the last five wickets for just 20 runs, restricting England to 407 runs and gaining a 180-run lead.
India's second innings featured a quick half-century partnership between Jaiswal (28 off 22 balls, with six fours) and KL Rahul, who scored 55 off 84 balls with 10 boundaries. A 110-run partnership between Rishabh Pant (65 off 58 balls, with eight fours and three sixes) and Gill, followed by a 175-run stand with Jadeja, saw India declare at 427/6, setting England a daunting target of 608 runs.
During England's chase, they were quickly reduced to 50/3. Jamie Smith (88 off 99 balls, with nine fours and four sixes) was the only bright spot as England was bowled out for 271 runs, losing by 336 runs, with Akash Deep's exceptional performance (6/99) sealing the match.