Cricket

Once Calling Cricket a Rich Man’s Game, Akash Deep Now Shines as India's Rising Star

By Neelesh Pandey - 08 Jul 2025 07:16 AM

There's a famous image of Mohammed Shami Grinning at the camera, holding up two broken pieces of a stump like trophies. It was taken after the final day of the Visakhapatnam Test in 2019, a game India won on the back of a classic Shami fourth-innings burst. At Edgbaston, nearly five years on and thousands of miles away, Akash Deep struck a strikingly similar pose: a ball in one hand, a stump in the other. Only, he wasn't quite sure how to be in the moment. He ran a hand through his hair, as if to style it for the photo, then pulled the India cap over it anyway. You could tell this was all new, the attention, the applause, the idea that the cameras were now trained on him.

It was Akash's first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. His first ten-for in a match. And the first time he was the centrepiece of a famous Indian victory. Like Shami in that Vizag game, Akash too knocked the stumps out four times in a stunning burst of seam bowling on the fourth and fifth days.

Akash Deep’s journey to the Indian cricket team is far from ordinary. Hailing from a modest background in Bihar, he once believed cricket was a game only for the privileged — “ameeron ka khel.” Today, he bowls for India, defying his own early notions and carving a place for himself in the competitive world of cricket.

Born in Dehri, Bihar, Akash Deep’s initial interests weren’t rooted in cricket. His love for music, especially songs by the legendary Mohammed Rafi, was stronger than any sporting inclination. In fact, cricket was not a priority during his early years. The infrastructure for the sport was poor, and opportunities were scarce in his hometown. His family focused on education, and cricket seemed like an expensive and uncertain pursuit.

Despite these constraints, Akash’s interest in cricket grew slowly. His turning point came after he moved to Durgapur, West Bengal, for higher studies. There, he began playing tennis-ball cricket more regularly, and his raw pace drew attention. Encouraged by local coaches and peers, he started taking the game seriously. Eventually, he shifted to Kolkata, where better coaching and match exposure allowed him to develop further.

Akash made his professional debut in 2019 for Bengal in domestic cricket. He was a late bloomer by Indian standards, making his first-class debut at the age of 23. However, his impact was immediate. A right-arm fast bowler with a clean action and good control, he became a regular in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy squad. His performances earned him a place in the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad for the Indian Premier League (IPL), giving him exposure to international players and top-level competition.

His consistent domestic performances led to his maiden India call-up in 2024 during the tour of South Africa. He impressed with his disciplined bowling and ability to extract bounce and seam movement. The same cricketer who once dismissed the sport as inaccessible was now donning the national jersey.

What makes Akash Deep’s story unique is not just his rise, but the grounded mindset he maintains. He continues to admire Mohammed Rafi, often listening to his music to relax before matches. In interviews, Akash speaks candidly about the struggles he faced — lack of financial support, absence of proper facilities, and the need to relocate just to play the game seriously. His honesty about once calling cricket “ameeron ka khel” reflects the very real divide in access to sports in India.

Akash Deep represents a growing group of Indian cricketers from small towns and modest backgrounds, who are breaking into the elite level through talent and resilience. His story is a reminder that passion and persistence can defy even deeply held beliefs and socio-economic barriers.

From Rafi’s melodies to cricket stadiums around the world, Akash Deep’s journey has been anything but conventional — and it’s just getting started.