Explained: Why Akash Deep didn’t invite Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni to his wedding

Akash Deep married Akshita Raj, a Bihar-born software professional and MCA graduate from the Birla Institute of Technology, on Wednesday, June 24, at the Taj Ganges hotel in Varanasi. The ceremony was a traditional, close-family affair. The pacer shared photos and videos from the event on his Instagram handle, captioning the post: “This beautiful wedding felt more like documenting two legends walking out for their forever innings.”

But eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed something. No Virat Kohli. No Rohit Sharma. No MS Dhoni. Three of Indian cricket’s biggest names and none of them were on the guest list.

The reason is simple

A video circulating on X captures a guest asking Akash, mid-wedding, whether he had invited “Virat Kohli bhaiya, Dhoni and Rohit bhaiya.” His reply? Something along the lines of: it would have been impossible to get the wedding done in Varanasi if he had.

Kohli walking into a wedding in Varanasi would not be a low-key affair. The security arrangements alone would have turned a family function into a full-scale event management operation. Akash clearly wanted none of that.

A simple wedding for a grounded cricketer

The pre-wedding ceremonies, mehendi on Monday and haldi on Tuesday, had already made rounds on social media, with fans keeping a close eye on every update. Several guests did attend, including Bhojpuri superstar Pawan Singh, who came to bless the couple.

There is something quite endearing about a Test cricketer who has shared a dressing room with Kohli and Rohit choosing to keep his wedding a quiet, family-first affair.

A big year ahead once Akash returns

On the cricket front, Akash Deep has been sidelined since early 2026 with a recurring lower-back stress injury. The 29-year-old missed the entire IPL 2026 season while undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. His return could come as early as the home Test series against Sri Lanka in August, with the tour of New Zealand in October-November also on the horizon.

When fit, the right-arm pacer has shown exactly what he is capable of. His 10-wicket haul in the July 2025 Edgbaston Test against England, which helped India win by 336 runs and level the series 1-1, remains one of the finest performances by an Indian bowler in England. The right-arm pacer has taken 28 wickets in 10 Tests for India so far.