Akash Deep: A Mohammed Rafi fan who once called cricket ‘ameeron ka khel,' never trusted his ‘hunar' and is now India's hero
NEW DELHI: Akash Deep loves singing old songs. His favourite is Mohammed Rafi's 'Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata Chala Gaya,' a song he would listen to on loop during his struggling days in Sasaram, Jamshedpur, New Delhi, Durgapur and Kolkata - all places he went in chase of his cricketing dream.
'Kabhi kuch dhuen mein nahi udaya (He never lit a cigarette),' says Vaibhav Kumar, Akash Deep's childhood friend.
'He found solace in this song. There is a line 'jo mil gaya usi ko muqaddar samajh liya' (Whatever I got, I considered that as my fate), it was his favourite. He has gone through a lot since a very early age. I don't know exactly when he found Mohammed Rafi or the great Rafi Saab found him, but the songs helped him,' Kumar tells TimesofIndia.com from Sasaram, where he heads Akash Deep's academy.
Vaibhav and Akash Deep outside their cricket academy in Sasaram (Special Arrangement)
On Monday morning, Vaibhav forwarded a reel to Akash Deep, where a Brummie outside the Edgbaston stadium was singing a song in his name. Akash gently replied, 'Ab humare naam pe gaana likha ja raha guru' (Now a song is being written in my name), disclosed Vaibhav with a laugh.
If Rafi's song helped Akash Deep fight the obstacles in his life, the random song from an Englishman at Edgbaston is a testament that the street will never forget what the 28-year-old did in the second Test of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
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Before going to England, Akash Deep had told TimesofIndia.com how playing for India still feels like a dream and why he once in a while asks his mother to pinch him. 'I never dreamt of playing
cricket
with a leather ball, forget playing Test cricket. Ye registaan mein paani dhoondne waali baat thi (It was like looking for water in a desert). Every match I play, I take it as an opportunity.
I am living a dream and I want to stay there for a while,' he had said.
But before even chasing this dream, he had almost quit. In 2016, he moved to Delhi, where his elder sister, who is now recuperating from liver cancer in Lucknow, used to live. He got himself enrolled in Madan Lal's cricket academy. A week later, he called Vaibhav and said: 'Yaar cricket ameeron ka khel hai, kahaan se humare jaison ka kuch hoga' (Cricket is a rich man's game, I don't think I will be able to do anything).
Before that, Akash Deep had tasted the brutal nature of the game in his village in Sasaram, Kolkata's maidan in 2012, and in Jamshedpur, where he saw former India pacer Varun Aaron bowling rockets and thought he could bowl as quick as him.
Akash Deep and Vaibhav at a function in Sasaram (Special Arrangement)
'My father was posted in Durgapur and I used to play cricket there. I asked him if you are planning to quit cricket, what would you do? What is your Plan B?' shared Vaibhav.
Vaibhav knew his friend had no Plan B, but was left surprised when Akash Deep said: 'I will learn truck driving.'
'When I coaxed him that to buy a truck you need money as well, he angrily said: 'Sone nadi mein ret bahut hai, bhookhe nahi marenge' (There is so much sand in River Sone, I will not die hungry).'
This was Akash Deep's frustration talking. His mother's pension was not enough to keep the family afloat.
Akash Deep and Vaibhav in their rented accommodation in Kolkata (Special Arrangement)
Upon Vaibhav's insistence, Akash Deep came to Durgapur, stayed there for a month and then the two friends took a train to Kolkata to give one more shot at cricket.
Akash Deep and Vaibhav in their rented accommodation in Kolkata (Special Arrangement)
'He had played in Kolkata before, when he used to go there for his father's regular check-up. Even then, he had played cricket in the maidans of Kolkata for Rs 200 to 300. But this time we had a plan. I got enrolled in Videocon Cricket Academy, where United Club used to train. I told the coach that there is a fast bowler I know, who will win you matches. After a lot of to-and-fro and several trials, they gave Akash a chance,' recollected Vaibhav.
'The deal was he would play as a professional and would not get any money. Back then in Kolkata, every team used to field three professional cricketers from outside of Kolkata and they had to pay money to play. In that season, Akash bagged 45 wickets and then he never looked back,' said Vaibhav.
In Kolkata, former India cricketer and then Bengal coach Arun Lal saw him bowling in one of the league matches. His nip-pacer impressed Lal and within weeks, Akash was playing for Bengal U-23 and soon, entered the dressing room of the senior team.
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'I was desperate to get him in the team. I picked him ahead of Ashok Dinda, a first-class legend. I received so much scrutiny for it. But the boy had so much hunar (talent). He was vibrant, the in-swingers were so lethal - you can ask Harry Brook, the way he got him out,' reminisced Lal.
Akash Deep, who had a breakthrough 2019-20 Ranji Trophy season, claiming 35 wickets in nine games, did so under Arun Lal.
'The boy had gone through so much that self-belief was lacking in him.
He was in a battle with himself. He is someone who needs an arm around his shoulder. I told him in jest one day that 'do you even know how good you are?' He laughed and said: 'Sir Ranji khel liye bahut hai' (I have played Ranji and that is enough). I blasted him for 45 minutes, and he was in tears, until Manoj (Tiwari) pulled me aside,' said Lal.
The reality check by Arun Lal gave Akash Deep a goal.
'I had told him that you are so good that you will be sold to any IPL team for Rs 10 crores and if you keep working hard, you will win Test matches for India,' said the 69-year-old.
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Yes, it's essential
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On Sunday, both his prophecies came true. At the 2025 IPL auction, he was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for Rs 8 crore. And on Sunday, at Edgbaston, he played a key role in India levelling the five-match Test series vs England.
But for Akash, he still has a lot to achieve both on and off the field.
'First and foremost Jyoti Di's recovery. Good education for his late brother's daughter, the eldest one has cracked the medical exam and is pursuing an MBA. We run a cricket academy in Sasaram, and we had a dream that from our academy very soon a girl or a boy will represent India,' said Vaibhav.
For now, Akash Deep has a Test series to win, many dreams to fulfill and Mohammed Rafi's songs to guide him through all the topsy-turvy ride of zindagi (life).
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
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