Many people follow cricket more than any other sport on the globe. Many cricket players have found success thanks to the IPL and league games. It is becoming a well-liked sport in the nation, with a steadily growing fan base. Several struggling players gain some money and a place in the national team. Let us look at some of the most inspirational journeys of cricketers.
1. Ishan Kishan
Cricket was Ishan Kishan's first sport when he was seven years old. Despite his talent, he did now show dedication to the sport. Ishan's coach got in touch with his dad one day and said he should push his kid to take cricket seriously. He consequently set out on an incredible journey. Ishan scored 273 runs in the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy matchup with Delhi. This was the highest Ranji Trophy score for a Jharkhand player. The Mumbai Indians bought him during the 2018 IPL auction. For the series against England in February 2021, Ishan Kishan got selected for the Indian Twenty20 International (T20I) team.
2. Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj, the auto-rickshaw driver's son, has set out on a challenging climb to the top. He is propelled by ambition and steadfast dedication. This quick bowler from Hyderabad has taught himself how to pitch. He had a breakthrough year in 2015 when he collected 41 wickets in nine Ranji Trophy games. But in 2017, the IPL auction altered his life. A staggering amount of INR 2.6 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore was Kishan’s auction price. He made his Team India debut against New Zealand in a T20 series that year.
3. Martin Guptill
Martin Guptill has a reputation for being adaptable. When Guptill was 13 years old, he nearly lost his life in a workplace accident when a fork hoist crushed his leg. He was thirteen years old when this terrible catastrophe occurred. Doctors tried to restore it but were unable. They also suggested that he might no longer be able to move unhindered. However, the man persisted in his optimism.
4. Suresh Raina
When Raina relocated to a sports hostel in Lucknow, he was 13 years old. He experienced bullying and severe financial difficulties when he started his journey. Ambati Rayudu served as Raina's captain when Raina competed for India in the u-19 world cup. Raina's perseverance was finally rewarded in 2005 as he debuted in the Indian national cricket team jersey. He became the first Indian to strike a century in t20 cricket at the 2009 T20 World Cup.
5. Hardik Pandya
The Pandya brothers survived their earlier playing years on a single meal of noodles that cost Rs. 5. They faced a lot of financial difficulties early on. Their lives drastically changed when MI bought Hardik Pandya at the 2015 IPL auctions for INR 10 lakhs. His life changed after this. Hardik Pandya is now the captain of Gujarat Titans and is one of the highest-earning cricketers in India.
6. MS Dhoni
He battled his father's adamant objections to choosing cricket over academics. But he was sure that he would pursue his aspirations. Dhoni thus disobeyed his father's wishes and instead achieved his goals. He then joined the Commando Cricket Club, played in an Under-16 championship, and later joined the Railways team. He then left his Railway job to pursue cricket. He went on to become the greatest cricketer in India.
7. T Natarajan
Thangarasu Natarajan, the son of a daily wage worker and a roadside food vendor, has experienced a roller coaster of a life. The speedster from Chinnappampatti beat all the odds to win. Natarajan went to the Kings XI Punjab in 2017 for INR 3 crores. He now takes care of his parents and four younger siblings.
8. Jonny Bairstow
The IPL player from Yorkshire, age 31, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad, has a tragic past. When he was eight years old, the keeper-batsman lost his father. In their home, his father killed himself after experiencing melancholy and financial difficulties. When Jonny reached adulthood and realized his love for cricket, keeping came naturally to him as a signature. He signed a contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019 and had a fierce campaign. In the IPL, Jonny still wears the Orange jersey.
9. Yashasvi Jaiswal
The life of Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of bravery and devotion. On December 28, 2001, he was born in Uttar Pradesh to a low-income family. His father had a small hardware store, and he has five siblings. After failing to obtain housing, Yashasvi used to reside in a tent at Azad Maidan with the groundskeepers. He had to practice in the morning and sell Panipuris in the evening. For INR 3.2 crores, RR selected Jaiswal in the 2020 auctions. This IPL salary altered his and his family's lives.
10. Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh was the star batsman for India. After the world cup, he was diagnosed with cancer. He chose to fight it out instead of letting this wear him down, though! Within three months, he returned to the field after receiving rounds of chemotherapy and traveling overseas to consult the best medical professionals! He returned to the area against Sri Lanka within a year and has not left after that.
