Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Akash Deep

Akash Deep is an Indian international cricketer who plays as a right-arm fast-medium bowler and a right-handed lower-order batter for the , in domestic , and the in the (IPL). Born on December 15, 1996, in Dehri, , , Akash Deep grew up in modest circumstances in , where limited facilities initially hindered his pursuit of professional . Despite familial discouragement and the loss of his father at a young age, he relocated to , , in 2010 under the pretext of studies to focus on the , starting with tennis-ball before transitioning to hard-ball formats. He made his first-class debut for in the season and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a key performer in domestic competitions with consistent wicket-taking ability, including 41 wickets in the 2023–24 . Akash Deep earned his international call-up with a Test debut for against during 's tour of in the 2023–24 series on February 23, 2024, at , where he claimed three early wickets to mark a promising start. In the IPL, he first featured for before joining for ₹8 crore ahead of the 2025 season, where he played six matches and contributed with both bat and ball. His breakthrough came during 's 2025 tour of in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, highlighted by a historic (4/88 and 6/99) in the second Test at in July 2025—making him only the second Indian to achieve this feat on English soil—and a gritty maiden Test half-century of 66 runs at in August, aiding 's series efforts. In November 2025, he was selected for 's Test squad for the tour of . These performances earned him recognition, including honors at the 2025 awards for his contributions to Indian .

Early life and background

Family and upbringing

Akash Deep was born on December 15, 1996, in Dehri, , , , into a modest . His father, Ramji Singh, worked as a schoolteacher in , while his mother, Laduma Devi, managed the household as a homemaker. He was the youngest of six siblings, including three elder sisters and two elder brothers, one of whom was Dhiraj. Standing at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters), Deep's height provided a natural advantage that would later support his physical growth into an . In 2010, at the age of 13, Deep moved alone from to in , staying with relatives under the pretext of studies to pursue opportunities, while his family remained in ; he later shifted his training to . This move aimed to improve his prospects amid limited facilities in Bihar's rural environment. Deep's early life was marked by significant personal hardships. In 2015, at age 18, his father succumbed to , followed six months later by his elder brother Dhiraj's from a brief illness, thrusting Deep into the role of family breadwinner for his mother and sisters. These tragedies compounded the family's struggles, leaving Deep to support them financially at a young age. Throughout his upbringing, Deep faced strong family opposition to pursuing sports, particularly , which his father viewed as unreliable and unsuitable for their socioeconomic background. Ramji instead encouraged him to focus on preparing for exams to secure a stable job, reflecting the practical priorities of their rural origins where was often seen as a distraction for the privileged. Despite this, his mother provided quiet encouragement amid the challenges.

Introduction to cricket and early challenges

Akash Deep's introduction to began in the streets of , , where he honed his skills playing informal tennis-ball matches as a teenager. These games not only sharpened his competitive edge but also provided crucial financial support for his family, with Deep earning approximately INR 20,000 per month by participating in local tournaments three to four days a month, often netting INR 6,000 per day. This early hustle underscored his determination to pursue professionally, despite familial emphasis on and stable employment opportunities. Deep joined the United Club in Kolkata's first-division league, marking his formal entry into structured training. Initially positioning himself as a batter, he soon transitioned to right-arm fast-medium under the guidance of coach Ranadeb , who recognized his natural pace potential during sessions at the Vision 2020 program and helped refine his technique from tennis-ball to hard-ball . 's mentorship was pivotal in building Deep's foundational skills, emphasizing grip, release, and consistency. Deep's progress was interrupted in by a severe back injury that sidelined him for several months, threatening to derail his budding career. Recovering through rigorous overseen by Bengal U-23 coach Sourasish Lahiri, who provided dedicated support and focused on gradual conditioning, Deep drew on mental resilience forged by family pressures and personal tragedies, including the loss of his father and brother within six months, which fueled his resolve to succeed in . This period of adversity reinforced his commitment to prioritizing over alternative paths like formal studies or government jobs, solidifying his path toward professional play.

Domestic career

Bengal domestic cricket

Akash Deep's entry into 's senior domestic setup followed a successful stint in age-group cricket, including the CK Nayudu Trophy where he claimed 26 wickets at an average of 30, earning selection for the state team. His early club-level training in served as a crucial stepping stone to this transition. He made his T20 debut for on 9 March 2019 in the against , capturing 2 wickets at an economy rate of 5.25. Deep followed this with his List A debut on 24 September 2019 in the for . His first-class debut came on 25 December 2019 in the against . Deep quickly established himself as a key fast bowler for across formats. In his second match against in the 2019-20 season, he secured a six-wicket haul, contributing to a season tally of 35 first-class wickets at an average of 18.02 as advanced to the knockouts. He has since taken multiple five-wicket hauls in the competition, including 5/51 against in 2023—part of a match-haul of 10/112 that propelled to the quarter-finals—and another against in February 2023, where his 5/42 helped secure a first-innings lead of 268 runs. As Bengal's lead pacer, Deep has been instrumental in the team's competitive showings, such as reaching the knockouts in multiple seasons. By November 2025, he had amassed over 100 first-class wickets at an average under 25, alongside strong returns in limited-overs domestic : 42 wickets in 28 List A matches at an economy of 4.82, and 47 wickets in 41 T20 matches at 6.83. In the 2025-26 and Bengal Pro T20 League, he continued to contribute with consistent performances.

Indian Premier League

Akash Deep entered the (IPL) when he was acquired by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for INR 20 at the 2022 , marking his initial foray into franchise T20 cricket following consistent domestic showings for . He was re-acquired by RCB via for INR 20 for the 2023 season and remained with the team in 2024. Deep made his IPL debut in , playing five matches and claiming three wickets, with his standout performance being 3/45 against , where he demonstrated his ability to extract seam movement on batting-friendly pitches. His opportunities were limited in the following years, featuring in two matches in 2023 and one in 2024, where he took a total of two additional wickets across these seasons, often bowling short spells in the powerplay or death overs. These restricted appearances highlighted the challenges of breaking into a competitive RCB pace unit, though his domestic form kept him in contention. Ahead of the 2025 season, Deep entered the auction, where he was secured by (LSG) for INR 8 crore, reflecting his growing reputation as a reliable seamer post his international Test exploits. In IPL 2025, he played six matches for LSG, capturing five wickets at an of 41.80 and an of approximately 11.50, including key breakthroughs in the powerplay against top-order batsmen and economical death overs that aided the team's middle-order defenses during a challenging season. His contributions, emphasizing seam variation on Indian pitches, helped stabilize LSG's bowling attack amid injuries, even as the franchise finished seventh and missed the playoffs. Across his IPL career up to 2025, Deep has appeared in 14 matches, securing 10 wickets at an of 54.80 and an of 11.83, underscoring his evolution as a T20 specialist who relies on subtle seam movement rather than raw pace to disrupt partnerships.

International career

Test cricket debut and achievements

Akash Deep earned his place in the Indian Test team through consistent domestic performances for and strong showings on India A , culminating in his debut selection for the 2024 home series against . He made his debut on 23 February 2024 against at the in , becoming India's 313th cricketer. In his first , Deep claimed three wickets for 83 runs, dismissing key batsmen , , and to provide an early breakthrough for . Deep's international career gained momentum during India's 2025 tour of in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, where he played a pivotal role in the pace attack alongside and . In the second Test at , he produced a career-defining 10-wicket haul across both —4/88 in the first and 6/99 in the second—securing a 336-run victory for and marking their first win at the venue after 58 years. This effort, achieved on a batsman-friendly , highlighted his accuracy and ability to generate , earning praise for revitalizing India's in overseas conditions. Later in the same series, during the fifth Test at starting 31 July 2025, Deep contributed significantly with the bat as a nightwatchman, scoring his maiden Test half-century of 66 runs off 94 balls to shield captain and stabilize the innings. This gritty knock, featuring 12 fours, was the second-highest score by an Indian nightwatchman in Test history and underscored his growing all-round utility. By August 2025, following the series, Deep had featured in 10 , capturing 28 wickets at an average of 35.79 and an economy rate of 3.91, with one to his name. His emergence has been bolstered by prior IPL and domestic seasoning, which honed his skills for the rigors of red-ball on varied surfaces. In November 2025, Akash Deep was named in India's squad for the home series against .

Limited-overs international prospects

As of November 2025, Akash Deep remains uncapped in (ODI) and (T20I) cricket, having featured exclusively in Test matches for despite his emergence as a reliable fast bowler in red-ball formats. He has expressed ambition to compete across all formats, highlighting his versatility in domestic white-ball cricket. Despite strong domestic performances, Deep has been overlooked for major white-ball series between 2023 and 2025, including the 2025, where reports indicated he was not considered for T20I selection due to perceptions of him as a Test specialist emphasizing pace and control over white-ball variations. In List A domestic cricket, he has maintained a of 24.50 across 28 matches, demonstrating consistency in longer limited-overs encounters. His T20 domestic record includes 21 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 16.85, underscoring his ability to contain and strike in shorter formats. In the (IPL), Deep's economy rate has hovered around 11.83 across 14 matches, with 10 wickets captured, though his acquisition by for ₹8 crore ahead of IPL 2025 signals confidence in his potential as a T20 backup option. In the 2025 season, he claimed 5 wickets in 6 matches at an average of 41.80, contributing to middle-order breakthroughs. While lacking prominent A limited-overs exposure, his Test achievements have positioned him as a prospect for broader international consideration, akin to late-blooming pacers like Mukesh Kumar who transitioned successfully post-red-ball success.

References

  1. [1]
    Akash Deep Profile - Cricket Player India | Stats, Records, Video
    He soon featured in the Duleep Trophy, flew to South Africa for an A tour, was India A's top wicket-taker in early 2024 against England Lions and made a ...Stats · Matches · Photos · Videos
  2. [2]
    Akash Deep Profile - ICC Ranking, Age, Career Info & Stats
    Profile. From Bihar to Bengal, from IPL to India colours, Akash Deep has seen it all. His journey has been inspirational from all the aspects you can look at.
  3. [3]
    Akash Deep | Lucknow Super Giants | IPL 2025
    Akash Deep, a gifted right-arm fast-medium bowler, possesses the ability to generate substantial seam movement and deliver impactful performances with both ball ...
  4. [4]
    Akash Deep: India seamer's journey to Test glory - BBC Sport
    Jul 29, 2025 · From Bihar to Birmingham, Akash Deep has come from humble beginnings and overcome family tragedy to make his mark in the India Test side.
  5. [5]
    Meet Akash Deep: The inspirational story of Team India bowler from ...
    Feb 23, 2024 · Seamer Akash Deep made his test debut for India in the ongoing series against England, becoming the fourth player to do so in the series.
  6. [6]
    Akash Deep | Crcikit by HT | Crickit - Hindustan Times
    Making the most of his maiden outing in India colours, Akash delivered a dream start with the ball, claiming the wickets of England's top three batters in the ...
  7. [7]
    Lucknow Super Giants | Akash Deep Profile - IPL 2025
    Bihar's Akash Deep moved to Bengal to pursue cricket and on the back of consistent domestic performances for the state was picked by RCB in 2021.
  8. [8]
    Akash Deep delivered – and helped India completely turn the tables ...
    Jul 6, 2025 · Deep's ten wickets in the match and 430 runs from Gill has levelled the series - and set-up a mouthwatering third Test at Lord's.
  9. [9]
    Akash Deep EXCLUSIVE: The Untold Story - 'Lived in a Hell Hole ...
    Jul 7, 2025 · Akash Deep's raw physical and mental strength caught Arun Lal's eye, and he labelled him "stronger than all the others" during his coaching ...
  10. [10]
    Akash Deep credits CAB for shaping his cricketing journey at 2025 ...
    Aug 30, 2025 · Among all winners, India fast bowler Akash Deep stood out after being honored for his strong performance in the recent Test series in England.Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  11. [11]
    Akash Deep Family - Father, Mother, Siblings, Wife, Kids
    Nov 28, 2024 · Akash Deep was born to his late father Ramji Singh and his mother Laduma Devi in Dehri (Rotas), Bihar on December 15, 1996. Akash Deep's Mother.
  12. [12]
    Rohtas to Ranchi via Kolkata: Akash Deep's sensational journey ...
    Feb 23, 2024 · Akash Deep's father and brother passed away, but Laduma Devi supported his passion for cricket. ... Akash Deep's elder brother Dhiraj died ...
  13. [13]
    https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/akash-deep-family
  14. [14]
    'After I lost my dad and brother in one year...': Akash Deep gets ...
    Feb 23, 2024 · Akash dedicated his wonderful three-wicket haul to his father Ramji Singh, who died in 2015 after succumbing to paralysis. Six months later, he lost his elder ...Missing: background | Show results with:background
  15. [15]
    Akash Deep: From Twin Tragedies to Realizing His Dream
    Feb 11, 2024 · Three years later, he returned to Durgapur when his uncle's son worked up a Kolkata connection and Akash joined the United Club in the CAB first ...
  16. [16]
    Beating odds nothing new for India's follow-on hero Akash Deep
    Dec 22, 2024 · “So three to four days a month, I would play tennis-ball ... So I would earn 20,000 per month ($377), which helped me run my expenses.Missing: earnings | Show results with:earnings
  17. [17]
    I was a train and you put me on the track: Akash Deep to Lahiri - Rediff
    Dec 16, 2023 · At Vision 2020, former Bengal pacer Ranadeb Bose worked with him and the transformation from tennis to season-ball cricket happened pretty ...Missing: introduction Kolkata United Sourasish 2018
  18. [18]
    The Akash Deep Story: Inside A Journey Of Tragedy, Triumph And ...
    Jul 10, 2025 · He went on to feature in the CK Nayudu season (26 wickets at 30) and the U23 one-dayers (8 wickets at 17), before the next transition. Akash's ...
  19. [19]
    Akash Deep – Age, Biography, Stats & Career Info - SportsCafe.in
    Height: 172 cm ; Hometown: Dehri, Bihar, India ; Jersey Number: 11 ; Batting Style: Right Handed Bat ; Bowling Style: Right-arm Fast Medium.<|control11|><|separator|>
  20. [20]
    Akash Deep IPL Career: Records, Age, Price, Team 2025, Stats
    He made his List A debut on 24 September 2019, for Bengal in the 2019–20 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He made his first-class debut on 25 December 2019, for Bengal in ...
  21. [21]
    Ranji Trophy: Akash Deep picks 10 wickets as Bengal thump ...
    Jan 20, 2023 · Bengal pacer and RCB squad member Akash Deep (5-51), who was outstanding with the ball in both the innings, bagged a 10-wicket haul in the match.
  22. [22]
    Ranji Trophy: Paceman Akash Deep's five-wicket haul puts Bengal ...
    Feb 10, 2023 · Riding on paceman Akash Deep's five-wicket haul, Bengal took a huge first innings lead of 268 runs and put themselves in a commanding position ...
  23. [23]
    Akash Deep Stats - Sportskeeda
    Inn, NO, R, BF, 100s, 50s, 4s, 6s, S/R, Avg, H. Total, 57, 4, 657, 937, 0, 2, 55, 43, 70.11, 12.39, 66. Total, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0.Missing: Bengal debuts
  24. [24]
    https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/ranji-trophy-akash-deep-picks-10-wickets-as-bengal-thump-haryana-by-innings-and-50-runs-reach-quarter-finals-2324139-2023-01-20
  25. [25]
    Akash Deep IPL Stats, Career & Records | IPL 2025 Squad
    Akash Deep IPL Highest Score & Best Bowling Record. Highest Score. 17Runs. Against KKR in 2023. Best Bowling Record. 3/45. Against KKR in 2022 ...
  26. [26]
    Akash Deep Overall Stats | Batting and Bowling Performance
    Check Akash Deep overall performance in India Cricket team, Batting performance, Bowling Performance and Fielding Performance in Test, ODI, World Cup, ...
  27. [27]
    IPL Auction 2025 - Lucknow Super Giants
    Pant. Batter. Base Price (₹). 2 Cr. Current Price (₹). 27 Cr. image. David ... Akash Deep. Bowler. Base Price (₹). 1 Cr. Current Price (₹). 8 Cr. image. Himmat ...
  28. [28]
    Akash Deep LSG IPL - Advance Cricket
    Akash Deep Took 5 Wickets (In 6 IPL innings) with Strike Rate of 21.80 and average of 41.80. A Deep's delivered 109 balls (with 0 Maiden over) and took 2 ...
  29. [29]
    Lucknow Super Giants - Wikipedia
    Since the first appearance in 2022, the team has reached the playoffs in two seasons (2022, 2023) and finished at 7th in points table in 2024 and 2025.
  30. [30]
    Akash Deep makes his Test debut in style | Cricket - Hindustan Times
    Feb 23, 2024 · The skiddy-off-the-deck pacer claimed three quick wickets in the first hour on Day 1 to give India a big lift.
  31. [31]
    Gill's captaincy milestone, Akash Deep's 10, India's biggest away win
    He became the first Indian seamer to take a ten-wicket haul for India since ... India tour of England, 2025, 2nd Test · India tour of England, 2025 ...
  32. [32]
    IND vs ENG: Akash Deep breaks Jasprit Bumrah's record
    Jul 7, 2025 · Akash Deep's exceptional 10-wicket haul at Edgbaston propelled India to a historic Test victory, their first at the venue, leveling the series 1-1.<|control11|><|separator|>
  33. [33]
    ENG vs IND: Akash Deep smashes second-highest score ... - Sportstar
    Aug 2, 2025 · ENG vs IND: Akash Deep smashes second-highest score by an Indian nightwatchman in Test history. Akash combined with Yashasvi Jaiswal to add 107 ...Missing: maiden | Show results with:maiden
  34. [34]
    Akash Deep scores maiden Test half century, India dressing room ...
    Aug 2, 2025 · Akash's 66 comes second in the list of top scores by an Indian night watchman, just behind Amit Mishra's 84 runs against England at the Oval in ...Missing: fifty | Show results with:fifty
  35. [35]
    Akash Deep Profile: Age, Stats, Records, ICC Ranking, Career Info ...
    In Test career to date, Akash Deep has played 10 matches to date in Test career and took 28 wickets, with an average of 35.79, conceding nearly 3.91 runs per ...Missing: August | Show results with:August
  36. [36]
    I want to play across all formats, says Akash Deep - Dafanews India
    Sep 1, 2025 · Deep has thus far played 10 Test matches for India but he is yet to make his ODI and T20I debut. The Bengal fast bowler recently did a decent ...
  37. [37]
    Asia Cup 2025- Akash Deep openly revolts against Indian selectors
    Aug 13, 2025 · There have been notions that Akash is not on the radar for the T20I selection for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 next month, as he has been mainly ...
  38. [38]
    Akash Deep - Wikipedia
    Akash Deep is an Indian international cricketer. He plays as a right arm fast bowler and right handed lower order batter for the India national cricket team ...
  39. [39]
    Akash Deep Indian Cricket Player Profile, Batting and Bowling stats ...
    21 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 16.85. These are the stats for Akash Deep in T20 format and his impressive control over the line and length.
  40. [40]
    Akash Deep IPL On India in 2025 - Advance Cricket
    Akash Deep IPL 2025 in 1st Innings. In 2025, Akash Deep played 5 IPL matches and scored 6 runs in 2 Innings. Akash Deep's Highest Score in IPL 2025 is 6. A Deep ...