'This Performance Is for Her': Akash Deep Dedicates Test Heroics To Sister Battling Cancer

Akash Deep dedicates his 10-wicket match-winning Test performance to his sister, who is bravely fighting cancer.

Akash Deep Delivers for India and His Sister in Emotional Test Triumph

Source : X/@virendersehwag

Birmingham, Jul 7 (PTI) "Every time I had the ball in my hand, her thoughts would cross my mind," said an emotionally overwhelmed Akash Deep as he dedicated his stellar performance in India's jinx-breaking Test win over England to his sister, who is battling cancer for the past two months.

Having taken 10 wickets in the series-levelling 336-run victory at the Edgbaston here on Sunday, the 28-year-old Bengal speedster well and truly arrived on the big stage with a performance of a lifetime on a track that was, for most part, a bowler's graveyard.

"I have not spoken about this with anyone but two months back, my sister was diagnosed with cancer. She will be very happy with my performance and this will bring some smiles back," he controlled his emotions while talking to Cheteshwar Pujara on 'Jio Hotstar'.

"Every time I picked up the ball, her thoughts and picture crossed my mind. This performance is dedicated to her. I want to tell her, 'Sis, we are all with you'," he added.

Speaking about the match, he was happy that the plans and the processes that he put in place worked out wonderfully during the game.

"My main aim was to hit the seam on hard lengths and let the ball move in. In case of Joe Root, my aim was to bowl from wide off the crease and get it to shape away.

"In case of Harry Brook, I knew that he is committed on the backfoot and wanted to hit the seam hard and on fuller length, getting it to move in," he explained the planning behind his wicket-taking deliveries.

A believer of living in the moment, Akash would like to savour his match-winning performance and not think about playing at the iconic Lord's cricket ground where the next Test will be held from July 10-14.

"I haven't thought about my game-plan for Lord's. But it won't be very different from what it has been here. There would be days when it would work and there would be days, it won't work.

"Our job is to stick to our strengths and believe in our processes," he said. 

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)