Leading up to the England tour, Akash Deep had little or less time for anything. His practice routine was messed up as he was spending his time in hospital attending his sister Jyoti who was undergoing cancer treatment. And that’s why the main worry for Akash wasn’t anything but this question: how would he survive a five-test match series.
“It was tough,” he says while in Bengaluru, where he is preparing for India’s home international season. “As such, a five-Test series is not easy. Especially if you’re a fast bowler. And at a time when I had to prepare, I was dealing with a lot of things.
“Being in and out of hospital, your diet and sleep often go for a toss. I was actually wondering how do I survive five Tests because even during the IPL because of my sister’s treatment, my training was haywire for one, one-and-a-half months. Luckily, I got time in the lead-up to the series thanks to the India A tour, where I had 10-15 days of preparation. I used that time to prepare well.”
Since his return, Akash has been having some busy time. After returning home he dashed to see his family and then went on a religious pilgrimage for his peace of mind.
“When I was growing up, there was nothing here,” he says. “No ground, no practice facility. I didn’t even see a red ball until I was 17-18. My thinking was when I have some money and resources, I’ll try and help kids who aren’t from financially sound backgrounds. So that they don’t have to go too far away to train.
“Not being financially strong should not come in the way of living your dreams of playing the game or getting opportunities. I’m glad I’ve been able to realise my dream [of building an academy]. I have a team that looks after most things, but I guide them and insist, if there are kids coming forward from disadvantaged backgrounds and have the talent, they should be prioritised.”
The story of Akash Deep is one of resilience. He has experienced everything, including living in a 150-square-foot room with eight other people in Kolkata, playing club cricket while surviving on lebu cha (lemon tea), staying with a cousin in Durgapur while looking for work, and losing both his father and brother in a couple of months. He cherishes every second he spends on the field because of this.
“If you find even a little happiness amid all your problems, it’s enough to bring a smile.”
When he dropped Gus Atkinson at long on and palmed the ball over the boundary for six on that anxious last morning at The Oval, he wasn’t happy. India needed one wicket to tie the series, while England needed eleven to win it.
“Maybe I could have tried to palm the ball in to save the six,” he says. “But I went to take the catch. Luckily in the next over (two overs later) we got the wicket [of Atkinson]. Immediately after I dropped the catch, there was really no time to dwell on it. Maybe if something else had happened I may have been thinking about it. Luckily I didn’t have to worry much.
“I ran really quickly to Siraj [laughs] once we took the final wicket.”
Akash Deep is currently preparing for the two-Test series against the West Indies starting on October 2 at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He has the mental room to relax, train, and concentrate on his game for the first time in months. He is currently enjoying the luxury of being able to be in the present and do what he loves most because he is not required to visit the hospital.
