Akash Deep dedicates 10-wicket match haul to his elder sister suffering from cancer

Indian seamer Akash Deep has dedicated his Birmingham performance to his elder sister, who has been battling cancer over the last two months. Notably, Akash scalped a 10-wicket match haul in Birmingham, which India won by 336 runs.

Speaking to the broadcaster, Sony Sports Network, after India’s biggest away win by runs, Akash disclosed that he wanted to put a smile on his elder sister’s face. Also, he added that every time he runs onto the bowl, he thinks of her.

It’s worth noting that Akash emerged as the second Indian bowler after Chetan Sharma to pocket a 10-wicket match haul in a Test in England, making it to the record books in his first-ever tour of England.

"I have not told this to anyone. My elder sister has been suffering with cancer for the last two months. She is now stable, she is fine. I think she will be the happiest (seeing my performance). I want to dedicate this match to her. I wanted to see a smile on her face," Akash Deep said.

"This is for you. Whenever I held the ball in my hand, your face was in my mind. I want to see happiness in your face. We are all with you," he added.

Though the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 tour didn’t go down well for Akash Down Under, he made some crucial changes to his lines and lengths in order to sustain and perform well in English conditions. 

"We have played on such wickets a lot in India. We had the same plan, I wanted to hit the right areas. What's happening off the pitch is not in my control. I wanted to put in a bit more effort when it comes to hitting the seam on the pitch. And when it lands on the right areas, I get movement," he stated.

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