‘Said out of love’: Akash Deep’s sister after his speech puts spotlight on her cancer fight

On Monday evening, Akhand Jyoti Singh, 38, was watching India’s victory ceremony after the team win over England at Edgbaston with her family in Lucknow when she was suddenly moved to tears. Her younger brother, Akash Deep — who took 10 wickets in the match — had just dedicated his performance to her, speaking publicly for the first time about her two-month battle with cancer.

“We were all watching the ceremony when I heard him talking about my health and fight with cancer. I never imagined he would speak about it publicly — he must have said it out of emotion,” said Jyoti, tears welling in her eyes, while speaking to The Indian Express at her residence.

The eldest of six siblings, Jyoti has always shared a close bond with Akash Deep, the youngest. Their father, Ramji Singh, a government schoolteacher, and their brother, Dheeraj Singh, both passed away in 2015.

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“After those two deaths, Akash became especially close to me. I don’t know what was going on in his mind when he spoke on stage, but I believe it came from the heart,” said Akhand Jyoti, a graduate and homemaker.

Until that moment, her battle with cancer was known only to a few close friends and some of Akash’s teammates. “On Tuesday morning, we spoke to him over a video call. When we asked why he mentioned it, he didn’t really answer — just said he couldn’t hold it in. I think it was out of love. Even in such a high-pressure moment, he was thinking of me,” she said, adding that Akash always stays updated about her health and stands by her through every difficulty.

Born in Bihar’s Sasaram district, Jyoti married Niteesh Kumar Singh in 2008. A native of Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi district, Niteesh retired from the Army and now works at a bank in Lucknow. The family recently moved into a new home there.

Jyoti, a mother of three sons aged 16, 13, and 11, was diagnosed with intestinal cancer two months ago, following an endoscopy prompted by severe stomach pain. The cancer was already in stage three. She recently underwent surgery at a Delhi hospital and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. According to her family, doctors have said her condition is stable.

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Her mother, Laduma Devi, came to Lucknow two months ago to care for her.

“Akash is very close to Jyoti. He wanted to bring some joy into her life during such a tough time,” said Laduma Devi. “When he dedicated his performance to her, it truly moved her. We all watched the match together and saw how well he played.”

She added that Akash had been passionate about cricket since childhood and the family always supported him because of his dedication. “Now, the whole family watches cricket. Before every match, we light an Akhand Deep (eternal lamp) and pray for his success.”

“Ever since Akash started performing well, Jyoti has been able to forget her illness, even if only for a while,” she said. “She even went to watch one of his matches in Lucknow. We’ve always believed he would achieve something big.”

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The family also recalled meeting Akash at the Lucknow airport before he left for the England tour.

“We went to see him off at the airport. I told him, ‘I’m fine. You focus on your cricket. The doctors say I’m stable, and you must make India proud.’ And he did. We were all so proud, and the whole country celebrated his performance,” Jyoti said, recalling how, despite his hectic schedule, he always made time for her during his stays in Lucknow.

“During the IPL, when Akash was playing for the Lucknow Super Giants, he never missed a chance to visit our home,” said her husband, Niteesh Kumar Singh.

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