Akash Deep’s 10 wickets led India to a big win over England in 2nd Test. In a cricket-obsessed country like ours, where kids grow up dreaming of playing for India, you need to be exceptional to make it to the playing XI. It becomes much more difficult if you're from a state like Bihar, where sports infra is poor, visibility on national level is low, associations are corrupt or politically influenced. That’s why his father, a govt school teacher in Sasaram, like many parents in the region, hoped his son would choose a stable govt job. But Akash instead chased his dream and finally earned his due after years of struggle in domestic cricket. It was a tough journey, he lost both his father and elder brother within six months at age 18 and suddenly became the family’s main support. He balanced responsibilities and passion, and did justice to both. Tough man. Inspiring journey. But his family’s challenges aren’t over yet. Today, he revealed his sister is battling cancer.