Akash Deep's Stellar Cricket Performance Fueled by Sister's Cancer Battle: A Story of Resilience and Dedication

Lucknow: Akash Deep has become a national sensation after his remarkable 10-wicket performance against England. However, the world only recently learned that this achievement came during a time of intense personal struggle, as his elder sister battles cancer.

Akash Deep's sister and mother at their Lucknow residence.

Akhand Jyoti Singh, 36, Akash's sister, radiated pride from her home in Lucknow, despite her fragile health. "I was diagnosed with cancer while Akash was playing for Lucknow SuperGiants in IPL 2025. A knot in my intestines required surgery," she shared with TOI. "Akash visited me in the hospital daily after practice. He was very concerned about me."

Jyoti, diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in April 2025, resides in Lucknow with her husband, a public bank employee.

"Every time I bowled, thoughts of her filled my mind," said an emotional Akash Deep, dedicating his Edgbaston performance to his sister. "I want to tell her, 'Sis, we are all with you'," he expressed to commentator Cheteshwar Pujara after the match.

Akash Deep endured the loss of his father, a schoolteacher, and elder brother within months of each other, years before his Test debut in July 2024.

"My father wanted Akash to focus on his studies, but he was passionate about cricket," Jyoti recounted. "He would inform us before tournaments, borrowing money which he always repaid after winning. When the Bihar cricket board was banned from the Ranji Trophy, Akash moved to Bengal, supporting himself by playing local matches."

Ladoma Devi, Akash Deep's mother, praised her son's exceptional resilience in the face of personal tragedies. She noted that he consistently found the strength to return to the cricket pitch.

The family watched Sunday's match on television, delighted by Akash's performance.

"He bowled with the same skill he showed during his debut in Ranchi, where he took three wickets," Ladoma Devi said. "After the match, he called us, and I encouraged him to continue playing with pride and make the country proud."