Akash Deep: His journey from the Kolkata maidans to hero of Edgbaston

It’s a pity that Akash Deep — India’s unlikely hero, who claimed 6 for 99 in England’s second innings and a 10-wicket haul in Edgbaston — could not be considered for Player of the Match, because of his captain Shubman Gill’s epic efforts.

But for now, the unassuming pace bowler will be happy to have simply brought some succour to his cancer-stricken elder sister with his stirring show.

Speaking to TV pundit Cheteshwar Pujara after India’s historic 336-run win, which helped them level the series, Akash opened up about his sister being diagnosed with cancer barely two months back. She is ‘stable’ now, he said, as he dedicated his success to her.

She in turn has expressed her pride in her youngest sibling’s achievements.

It’s perhaps yet another chapter in his battle with destiny. A young Akash had already been forced to take a break from the sport once, to take care of his paralysed father. A few years later, he lost both his father and elder brother in quick succession.

“Having seen up close what he has gone through in life, we are very happy for him,” says Sourashis Lahiri, former off-spinner and Bengal Under-23 coach, under whom the pacer made his age group debut for Bengal. “It’s a reward of Akash Deep’s years of hard work and also a testimony to the powerful domestic structure of our cricket.”

It is, of course well-known that having hailed from Sasaram in Bihar — a town more famous for politician Jagjeevan Ram than its cricketers — Akash’s cricket career actually took off on the maidans of Kolkata.

The journey of one of the heroes of the historic Edgbaston triumph — along with the other seamer Mukesh Kumar — bears a striking resemblance to senior paceman Mohammed Shami, who had once stepped into Kolkata as a starry-eyed teenager from a remote corner of Uttar Pradesh. There is no doubting that the use of an upright seam, the untiring efforts to skid and move the ball off an unresponsive wicket, are attributes inspired by Shami.

Both Akash and Mukesh — and the latter has had his own bouts in and out of the Indian team set-up — are products by the Cricket Association of Bengal’s (CAB) Vision 2020 programme. They formed the pace troika with Ishan Porel that guided West Bengal to two Ranji Trophy finals in quick succession. No wonder the cricketing fans and exponents of the city alike are thrilled at the former’s success — and feel that it’s time for him to capitalise on this big break.

Speaking to National Herald over the phone, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, former Bengal captain and coach when Akash made his senior state debut, looked back on his growth.

“Akash had always been a willing learner. Back in 2022, my only advice to him was to stick to the off-stump line or thereabouts — day in and day out... I told him this [was] a process which was followed even by greats like Glenn McGrath, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh,” he observed.

Soutam Mitra, an early coach to Akash at Kolkata’s Videocon Academy, sounded emotional in an interview with ABP Online. “His early years in 2017–18 were tough, as he had to rough it out in a players’ accommodation in the congested neighbourhood of Baguihati. Later, the cricket secretary of United Sporting, the club he played for, hosted him at his residence for some time. It has been a tough journey for him and we are really happy at his success,” Mitra said.

The rigours of Maidan cricket, where the margin of error is less for a bowler on grounds with shorter boundaries, may have taught him the virtue of discipline in line and length. It certainly has paid dividends, despite the limited exposure in the big league Akash has had so far.

After making his Test debut against England at Ranchi last year, Akash also had a look-in at the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, where he impressed with his disconcerting pace and a nip off the pitch — but was not lucky enough to get among the wickets.

“I am not sure whether I will be playing in the third Test at Lord’s,” a pragmatic Akash had told the media after his 4-88 in the first innings.

However, after the star turn during England’s second innings, which helped him end with match haul of 10-187, it looks like Akash has come to stay — at least in overseas conditions.

Once Jasprit Bumrah is back at Lord’s, there should be a no dilemma for Gautam Gambhir & Co. in picking their third pacer.

 And now, it's over to Lord’s in three days’ time!