Cricket has no boundaries. Many people often quote this statement as this statement stands true. Many cricketers come from unprivileged and small cities. Many of them are the inspiration for us. These people have proved that nothing is impossible. They have achieved many things in their career because of their sheer dedication. So, here’s a list of ten cricketers who are from small cities.
1. MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni is the greatest captain that India has ever produced. He is the only captain in the world who has won all types of ICC trophies. He is one of the best finishers this game has ever seen. There are plenty of matches that MS Dhoni has won for India. But behind all these achievements, he has struggled a lot. He is from the small town of Ranchi. In his time, Ranchi was an underdeveloped city. To play big tournaments, he had to go out of his city to play the games. He is an inspiration to many youngsters who come from small towns.
2. Shoaib Akhtar
Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar is the fastest bowler this game has ever seen. He hails from Rawalpindi. He said that in his youth, he had to go to different cities for bowling trials and practice. During his young days, he even took the help of a Coachman, which he mentioned in his book. In 1997, Shoaib Akhtar made his debut for Pakistan’s team. After that, he never looked back and became one of the best bowlers in Pakistan.
3. Suresh Raina
India’s one of the finest middle-over batters, Suresh Raina hails from a small town in Uttar Pradesh, where he spent many years. Around 2000, Suresh Raina decided to play cricket, for which he moved from his hometown. He migrated to Lucknow. Then, he became the Captain of Uttar Pradesh’s under-16. Suresh made his debut in 2005 against Sri Lanka. After this, he only succeeded in International Cricket. He also played a crucial role in the 2011 World Cup.
4. Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh is a left-handed middle-over batsman from India. He is from a small town named Aligarh, situated in Uttar Pradesh. Rinku had to struggle a lot, as he was not financially well. He had to face many difficulties. In 2018 IPL Rinku Singh was sold to Kolkata for 80 Lakhs. But he came into the limelight when he smashed five winning sixes in the last over. Then, in August 2023, Rinku Singh made his debut against Ireland. Currently, he has a lot more to learn and do for Indian Cricket. But he is an inspiration for all the youngsters.
5. David Warner
David Warner is an Australian left-handed, aggressive batsman. He hails from the Paddington, a suburb in Eastern Sydney. He was from a small city in which he needed access to more equipment. By his talent and sheer dedication, David Warner got selected in the Australian national team. In fact, In the history of Australian Cricket, he was the first player to be chosen without any experience in first-class cricket. David Warner has proved himself in all formats of cricket.
6. Chris Gayle
The Universe Boss, Chris Gayle, is now one of the most destructive batsmen this game has ever seen. He has scored two double centuries in test cricket, and he was the first one to score a century in T20 cricket. Chris Gayle was born on 21st September 1979. Chris Gayle hails a small town situated in Jamaica. He spent his childhood picking rags. In his childhood, Gayle used to be a ragpicker. He played his first match at the age of 19. After that, he became the nightmare of bowlers.
7. Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh was the right-arm off-spinner of India. He is one of the best spinners that India has ever produced. Harbhajan has 400+ wickets in test cricket. He was born into a Sikh family. Harbhajan Singh comes from a small town, Jalandhar, situated in Punjab. After the death of his father, he got all the responsibility of his family. After struggling a lot, Harbhajan Singh made his permanent place in Team India. After that, he has won many matches for India.
8. Babar Azam
Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, is ranked No.1 in ODI cricket. He is the fastest batsman to score 5,000 runs in ODI cricket. Amla previously held this record, and Babar broke this record by scoring 5000 runs in 97 innings. He hails from a small town situated in Lahore. During his childhood, he used to be a ball-boy in matches. Then, after his sheer dedication and hard work, Babar Azam debuted in 2015. Now, Babar Azam is one of the best batsmen in Pakistan.
9. Umran Malik
This young sensational talent is famous for his fast bowling at a speed of 150+ kmph. Umran Malik was born in 1999, and he hails from the Gujjar Nagar locality of Jammu. In 2021, Umran Malik made his IPL debut against Kolkata. Umran Malik impressed everyone because of his sheer pace. Then, in 2022, he made his debut against Ireland. As of now, he has a lot more to play and learn.
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shaheen Afridi is currently one of the best bowlers in the world. His left-arm action and angle make it more difficult for the batsman to play. Shaheen can swing the balls in both ways. He is a decent bowler in death bowler. Shaheen was born on 6th April 2000. He hails from a tribal area situated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is a very small town in Pakistan. Shaheen made his debut in 2018 against West Indies. After that, he played in the World Cup of 2019. Now, he is the most successful bowler in Pakistan.
