who stopped cricket for three years to make ends meet
Akash Deep was called up to the senior squad due to his outstanding performance for India A. The pacer’s path to the Indian squad was not without its challenges, though. A few years back, the bowler had to quit cricket in order to make ends meet.
In the fourth Test match between India and England in Ranchi on Friday, teammate Akash Deep made his eagerly awaited debut. Rahul Dravid, the head coach, was the one to give the rookie bowler his first Test cap.
Akash Deep received a call-up to the senior squad following his outstanding performance for India A. But it wasn’t all sunshine and roses for the pacer on his way to the Indian squad. A few years ago, the pacer’s financial situation forced him to quit cricket.
Reports claim that Akash Deep had a lifelong affinity for playing cricket. But his father, who didn’t like cricket, discouraged him. With the excuse of looking for work, Akash moved for Durgapur after his father failed to provide the necessary assistance. One of his uncles eventually came to his aid.
After enrolling in a nearby academy, Akash’s quickness began to garner praise from many. But his father passed away following a stroke. Akash’s elder brother passed away two months subsequent to the demise of his father.
In Akash’s family, the terrible circumstance led to a major crisis. He had a serious financial setback. Akash had to give up cricket for three years and find another way to support his mother, which required him to work. Despite Akash’s best efforts, he was unable to break away from cricket for too long due to his passion of the game.
Before long, he went back to Durgapur and finally relocated to Kolkata. He later became a member of the Bengal Under-23 squad, where he debuted in 2019. He was then acquired by Royal Challengers Bangalore for the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. In the end, he made his Indian team debut.
