“Some things are better if they are kept personal” - Rishabh Pant on Akash Deep’s elder sister dealing with cancer

Indian vice-captain Rishabh Pant has stated that he was aware that Akash Deep’s elder sister was diagnosed with cancer during the recently concluded IPL 2025 season. However, he requested the media to keep the personal things away.

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Notably, Akash, who scalped a 10-wicket match haul in the Birmingham Test, dedicated his performance to his elder sister, who has been dealing with cancer for the last two months, to bring a smile to her face.

"I knew during the IPL that such a thing has happened. But, some things are better if they are kept personal. Definitely there have been conversations, but the more you keep it personal, its better that way,” Pant said at the pre-match press conference.

"I have not told this to anyone. My elder sister has been suffering with cancer for the last two months. She is now stable, she is fine. I think she will be the happiest (seeing my performance). I want to dedicate this match to her. I wanted to see a smile on her face," Akash Deep said after India levelled the series 1-1.

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"This is for you. Whenever I held the ball in my hand, your face was in my mind. I want to see happiness in your face. We are all with you," Akash had added.

On the other hand, Pant also asserted that Akash and Mohammed Siraj lived up to expectations in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence in the second Test. Interestingly, Bumrah would be back to the XI at Lord’s to make things spicier. 

"This is the time to step up. Bumrah was not playing because of workload management. But still Akash Deep and [Mohammed] Siraj stood up. That is very nice to see,’ Pant added.

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"We don’t want to think about what the opposition is thinking. Are they changing their plans or not? Whatever they are doing, we’ll do our best and try to get better,” he concluded.

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