Akashdeep: New face in Indian pace battery
With India leading 2-1, Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the Ranchi Test, allowing 6ft 1inch tall new face Akashdeep for the pace attack with Mohammad Siraj. Akashdeep made his Test debut on Indian soil against England at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium in Ranchi. Akashdeep did not disappoint the selectors, he returned England’s top three batsmen Jack Crowley, Ben Duckett and Olly Pope to the pavilion.
Akashdeep is shaping up to be the pillar of India’s new fast bowling power, currently playing domestic cricket for Bengal and for the IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore. He made his international debut in the 4th Test on 23 February 2024.
Behind his success lies an indomitable tenacity and a never-give-up mentality, which mirrors the success stories of many Indian cricket stars.
Akash deep stays away from home chasing his dream
A boy from Sasaram in Bihar, in whose family the thought of playing cricket was a no-brainer. And the desire to play in the Indian team is a day dream. Like many crickets born with talent from adverse circumstances, Akash deep might have been lost in the dark. Talking about all this, Akash said, “My father did not like playing cricket at all. Playing cricket was a crime in his eyes. But I never blame them…where I grew up nobody could ever make a future by playing cricket” So my father used to ask me to take the government jobs exam.
Akash deep was born on 15th December 1996 in Sasaram district of Bihar. His father was a government school teacher in Bihar. As a child, there was a lot of trouble with him because he was interested in playing instead of studying. Akash deep was at a disadvantage due to the suspension of state cricket association in Bihar, and had to rush for proper guidance and opportunities.
Akash deep’s father keeps trying to get him a government job, but Akash deep’s mind is on playing cricket. But due to his father’s untimely death, Akashdeep faced a lot of difficulties.
Playing cricket in a state like Bihar is a crime,” says Akash, His friends and teammates were forbidden to mix with him so that they too would not think of quitting their studies and playing cricket. Many parents used to tell their children not to associate with Akashdeep “I continued to play cricket secretly”.
The opportunity did not come and Akashdeep had to take the opportunity
A friend of Akashdeep helps him join a cricket club in Durgapur and thus alleviates his lack of money to some extent. He continues to earn well by playing tennis ball matches every month as he plays tennis ball matches in the district and earns thousands of rupees daily.
In 2010, he joined United Club in CAB First Division League to better shape his cricketing future. Began playing as a batsman at a local academy, but soon began to bowl hard on the insistence of his coach. Ex-Bengal bowler Randev Bose’s proximity to Akash’s ball goes out. Within a year under 23 of Bengal team was selected. Sourashish Lahiri, the head coach of Bengal, helped him regain his rhythm when his cricketing future was put in jeopardy by a back injury.
The soil of Bengal gave success to Akashdeep
He made his Twenty 20 debut for Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Trophy in the 2018-2019 season. He made his List A debut for Bengal on 24 September 2019 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2019–20 season. He made his first-class cricket debut for Bengal in the 2019 Ranji Trophy.
His bowling is characterized by his tenacity and focus, which he has gained from growing up in adverse circumstances. A 103-wicket haul in 29 first-class matches and an eye-catching performance against the England Lions make him capable of unleashing his all even in bad conditions.
Akashdeep got an opportunity to play for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team in the second phase of the IPL 2021 season organized in the United Arab Emirates. He was brought by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022 IPL auction. He took four wickets twice in two games for India against the England Lions before getting a chance in Tests.
Moving from Sasaram in Bihar to Durgapur, starting his cricketing journey, transitioning from batsman to fast bowler was nothing but a dream. Akashdeep’s back injury almost ended his dream of playing cricket.
Nothing can stop Akashdeep
Born again like a phoenix, Akashdeep learned the ins and outs of his game from exes like Randev Bose and Sourasish Lahiri, corrected the mistakes and made his debut for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy in 2019. His talent is unrepressed, the selectors understand Akashdeep’s spark.
In November 2023, Deepak Chahar was replaced in the Indian ODI squad for the tour of South Africa, but he did not play any matches.
Finally, in February 2024, he was called up to the Indian Test team, against England on Indian soil.
He got this good news when he was busy playing Ranji Trophy 2023-2024 for Bengal.