Akash Deep

International Career

Akash Deep was born on December 15, 1996, in Dehri, Bihar. He plays as a fast bowler for India and also bats in the lower order. He represents Bengal in domestic cricket and plays for the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League. Akash began his international journey after consistent performances in domestic competitions. Here's a breakdown of his career:

• November 2022:
  Akash Deep joined India’s squad for the 2022 Asian Games. He replaced Shivam Mavi, who was injured.
• November 2023:
  Akash was included in India’s ODI squad for the series against South Africa. He came in as a replacement for Deepak Chahar, who was injured, but did not play in the matches.
• February 2024:
  Akash got his first Test call-up for the last three Tests in the series against England. He was playing for Bengal in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy at the time he got the news.
  
• February 23, 2024:
  Akash made his Test debut against England in Ranchi at the JSCA International Stadium Complex.
• He struck early on his debut, dismissing Zak Crawley, though a no-ball call stopped his celebration.
• He quickly picked up two wickets in two balls, dismissing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope.
• Akash also dismissed Joe Root in the same match and continued to show his skill with the ball.
• September 19, 2024:
  Akash played in a Test against Bangladesh in Chennai.
• September 27, 2024:
  He took part in another Test match against Bangladesh in Kanpur.
• October 24, 2024:
  Akash played in a Test match against New Zealand in Pune.
• November 1, 2024:
  He was involved in a Test match against New Zealand in Mumbai.
• December 26, 2024:
  Akash played his latest Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Indian Premier League

Akash Deep started his IPL career in 2022 with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He debuted against Punjab Kings in March 2022. Since then, he has played for RCB and gradually improved his performance. Here is a summary of his IPL appearances:

In IPL 2025, Akash Deep joined the Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 8 Crore at the auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He has impressed with his domestic form and is set to play as a fast bowler for the team.

Kolkata Knight Riders signed Akash Deep for INR 1 crore ahead of the 2026 season. He was set to lead the domestic pace unit but missed the tournament due to a lower-back injury and is now in rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.

Domestic Career

Akash Deep started his domestic career in the 2018-19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, playing for Bengal against Maharashtra. He scored 13 runs off 11 balls and took two wickets at an economy rate of 5.25.

In the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Akash played his first List-A match for Bengal against Gujarat. He took two wickets, but Bengal lost by 38 runs.

Later in the 2019-20 season, he debuted in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal against Andhra Pradesh. In his first innings, he took three wickets. His best performance came in January 2020 when he took 6 wickets for 60 runs against Gujarat.

Records and Achievements

Akash Deep has earned several important awards and set notable records in his cricket career. His strong performances have gained attention in both domestic and international cricket.

Awards:

• In 2023, Akash Deep was named "Player of the Match" for his great performance against Haryana in the Ranji Trophy.
• In February 2024, he got his first Test call-up for the last three matches of the home series against England. This was after his good performances for Bengal and India A.
• Akash took 89 wickets in 39 innings over three seasons of the Ranji Trophy, averaging 21.2 wickets per match.

Akash Deep's stats highlight his impressive performance in domestic cricket, with notable achievements.

Records:

• Highest batting score: 31, achieved in a match against Australia on December 26, 2024.
• Second-highest batting score: 27, achieved in the third Test against Australia in Brisbane on December 17, 2024.
• Best bowling figures: 3/63, achieved in a match against Australia on December 26, 2024.
• Akash won a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games while playing for India.

Personal life

Akash Deep’s path in cricket has not been easy, but his dedication has led him to success.