Birmingham: In an extraordinary show of skill and sentiment, India’s young fast bowler Akash Deep delivered a career‑defining performance at Edgbaston, taking 10 wickets to help India level the Test series with a resounding 336‑run win—their first ever at this iconic venue.
But behind the celebrations lay a personal revelation. In a post‑match interview, a visibly emotional Deep disclosed that his elder sister has been battling cancer for the past two months, and he dedicated his incredible performance to her.
AKASH DEEP DEDICATED HIS TEN-WICKET HAUL TO HIS SISTER WHO IS SUFFERING FROM CANCER 🥹❤️#IndiavsEngland #ENGvsIND #INDvsEND #AkashDeep #ShubmanGill #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/QAA71HeYPr
— ImAmit🇮🇳 (@AmitBharti89808) July 6, 2025
“I have not told this to anyone. My elder sister has been suffering from cancer for the last two months… Whenever I held the ball in my hand, your face was in my mind. I want to see happiness in your face,” Deep said, voice choked with emotion as he addressed his sister.
Deep’s match haul surpassed former India pacer Chetan Sharma’s 10-for‑188 from 1986, setting a new record for the best bowling figures by an Indian in England, with figures of 10/187. His seam bowling, peppered with subtle movement off the pitch, rattled England’s top order both innings—a defining factor in India’s historic triumph.
Shubman Gill, making waves as India’s Test captain with scores of 269 and 161, complemented Deep’s heroics perfectly, rallying his team to a dominant position before Deep delivered the final blows.
Deep’s tears of joy on the pitch were echoed by his heartfelt words off it, making this victory not only a sporting milestone—but a deeply emotional moment of triumph over personal and familial adversity.
Key Highlights:
10-Wicket Match Haul: Deep’s 10/187 breaks a 39‑year record and cements his place in England’s cricketing history.
Emotional Dedication: Revealed his sister’s cancer diagnosis, dedicating every delivery to her.
Historic Win: India clinch their first ever Test victory at Edgbaston and register their largest away‑from‑home Test win by runs.
As the team heads to Lord’s for the next match, all eyes will be on Akash Deep—not only for his extraordinary performance, but also for the courageous spirit behind it.
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