Our Bureau
New Delhi
When Akash Deep was brought in the Indian team as a replacement for their ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, no one would have predicted that he would end the match with the best figures ever for India in England. He dedicated his match-winning performance to his sister Jyoti, who is battling cancer. Akash Deep’s sister was recently interviewed after his brilliant performance in the Edgbaston Test.
Jyoti spoke about how it was a matter of pride for them as well as the whole country. She spoke about how she went to meet him before they left for the England tour and told him to stop worrying about her and do well for the country. She revealed that she is in the third stage of cancer and the doctor has said that her treatment would go on for six more months.
“It is a matter of pride for India – he has taken 10 wickets. Before the England tour, we went to meet him at the airport. I told him, ‘I’m absolutely fine, don’t worry about me, just do well for the country.’ I am in the third stage (of cancer), and the doctor has said the treatment will go on for six more months, after which we’ll see. It makes me very happy when Akash takes wickets. Whenever he gets a wicket, all of us start clapping and cheering so loudly that the neighbours in the colony ask what has happened!” Jyoti said.
Jyoti stated that she had no idea that Akash would be mentioning her illness in the post-match interview. She expressed that at first, they weren’t ready to disclose it to the world but the way it came out in the interview with all the emotions showed how much it mattered to him.
“I had no idea Akash would say something like that. Maybe we weren’t ready to talk about it publicly, but the way he became emotional and said it for me- dedicating it to me – it’s a big deal. It shows how much he loves our family and me. Given the situation at home, and still performing like that and taking wickets there, it’s a huge thing. I’m the one he is closest to,” she said.
