India pace sensation Akash Deep produced a magnificent effort in the second Test at Edgbaston to lead his side to a comprehensive 336-run win against England and level the five-Test series.
The right-arm pacer was the man of the match with a match haul of ten wickets, including an excellent six-for in the second innings that placed India in a commanding position.
After the win, Akash Deep had an emotional disclosure—he dedicated his match-winning performance to his older sister, Akhand Jyoti Singh, who has been undergoing cancer treatment for the last two months.
During the second innings, Akash tore apart England's batting line-up, sending notable players such as Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, and Brydon Carse back to the pavilion. With his blistering spell, he not just led the Indian pacers but also made the absence of Jasprit Bumrah imperceptible.
In an interview with Aaj Tak, Akash Deep's sister expressed her emotional response to his dedication. She revealed that the family had not informed her of her diagnosis until the pacer openly discussed it after India's decisive victory.
"I didn't expect Akash to utter words like that. Perhaps we hadn't prepared ourselves for it in public, but the way he got emotional and spoke those words on my behalf—dedicating it to me—it's very important," she said in an interview with Aaj Tak.
“It shows how much he loves our family and me. Given the situation at home, and still performing like that and taking wickets there, it’s a huge thing. I’m the one he is closest to,” she added.
Jyoti also recalled how Akash video-called her multiple times after the match ended, including a heartfelt conversation at dawn the next morning.
After the game, we have talked twice over video call, and again at 5 o'clock in the morning. Akash said to me, 'Don't worry, the entire country is with us.' He said, 'I couldn't control it anymore. I had tried to, but yesterday I simply could not resist,'" she remembered.
Explain how close they are, she continued, "This kind of brother is a rare thing. He does a great deal to help us and doesn't do anything without consulting us. He gives everything to the family. Since our father and older brother are not with us, he is now taking care of the entire household."
Jyoti disclosed that Akash Deep's cancer treatment started during the 2025 IPL season, when Akash Deep was playing for Lucknow Super Giants. In spite of his busy schedule, he never missed a chance to go to the hospital to meet her.
“When the IPL was going on and he was playing for the Lucknow team, I was admitted to the hospital for cancer treatment. Even then, he would come to meet me either before or after the matches,” she said.
In the second IPL season of 2025, Akash played six games and took three wickets. But his sister opines that it's his unwavering emotional support that had the maximum impact on her road to recovery.
"He was the one who encouraged me the most when I was undergoing my cancer treatment. I would say don't worry, I have my husband with me, but he would say, 'Everything I have belongs to my sisters and to my family.' We have three brothers and three sisters—one is no longer with us. Akash is the youngest," she said.
"Before and after each match, he ensures to call home on video. He said to me, 'I did everything for you and for the nation. I picked those wickets for you,'" she continued.
Akash Deep also took four wickets in the first innings at Edgbaston, completing a memorable Test match that showed not only his ability, but also his hard work and commitment to his family during difficult times.
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