Indian fast bowler Akash Deep made headlines with his historic 10-wicket haul in the Edgbaston Test against England, filling in for Jaspreet Bumrah. His stellar performance not only helped India clinch victory but also brought attention to his inspiring journey from the small village of Baddi in Sasaram, Bihar.

Akash recently opened up about the hardships he faced growing up. Born in a village where cricket was not taken seriously, Akash had to play the game secretly. His late father, Ramji Singh, a school teacher, wanted his children to focus on education and was strict about coming home late. Akash shared in an interview with Sports Launchpad that sometimes after late-night matches, he and his friends would have no choice but to sleep on the cricket ground until morning before returning home.

He revealed that many villagers considered cricket a waste of time and discouraged children from pursuing it, fearing it would ruin their futures. Despite this, Akash’s passion for cricket never faded.

His journey was further challenged by personal losses—he lost his father at 19 and then his brother a few months later. With financial hardships and limited cricket infrastructure in Bihar, Akash’s breakthrough came only after he moved to Bengal. Because of the ban on the Bihar Cricket Association, he found opportunities to develop his cricketing skills in Bengal’s domestic circuit.

Akash Deep’s rise is a testament to perseverance and dedication against all odds.