Mumbai cricket has long been a breeding ground for exceptional talent, producing Indian greats such as Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma. Alongside these legends are players whose promise was undeniable but whose international careers were cut short. (Photo: ICC)
Salil Ankola is one such name. The lanky fast bowler made his Test debut in 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi — the same match in which Tendulkar first played for India. Ankola later represented India in 20 ODIs and even served as a BCCI selector. (Photo: X)
Despite his ability, recurring injuries prevented him from becoming a regular in the national squad. Away from cricket, he appeared in nine films, two of them alongside Sanjay Dutt. Ankola revealed that by 1997, he had reached a difficult point in his life.
"I started drinking quite a bit in despair. Despair means your whole life you want something, when you're in the best form of your life... In 1997, I was in the best form of my life and suddenly I was injured. Srinath was injured, Manoj Prabhakar had gone, Kapil Paji had retired. So, I was there in the front and suddenly everything just disappears in a flash," Salil said on Vicky Lalwani's YouTube channel. He added that he distanced himself completely from cricket for more than a decade.
"And you won't believe, from 1999 or 2000 till 2011, I didn't watch a single match. I've not seen Virender Sehwag playing. I've not seen Virat Kohli debuting. I've not watched Zaheer Khan bowling. I've not seen Ajit Agarkar bowling. My own friends have not seen them playing. Why? I just didn't want to see cricket anymore."
Discussing the depth of his struggles, he continued: "I didn't choose to drink how much I drank; it happened over the years. If I was up for 24 hours, then I would be drinking for 24 hours. That was my way of escapism. They tried to stop me, but then it's up to an individual. Maybe I was not ready to stop then. I have been to many rehabs, tried to give up alcohol many times, but it wasn't happening, despite my wanting to. God has been kind. I shouldn't have been alive. I would have been dead in 2014 itself. I was in ICU, three times given up for dead."
Ankola concluded by acknowledging the crucial support he received from his family, especially his wife Ria, who played a major role in helping him rebuild his life.
