From Selling Jewellery For Shoes To IPL 2025 Auction: The Journey Of Bihar Pacer Sakib Hussain – News18

Last Updated:November 19, 2024, 11:31 IST

In his initial days, Sakib Hussain supported his family by earning Rs 500-1000 in tennis ball tournaments. He also excelled as a right-arm fast-medium bowler and lower-order batsman in cricket

Sakib Hussain, from the Gopalganj district of Bihar, has been featured in the list of players selected for the IPL 2025 Auction. Having honed his skills as a net bowler for CSK and later joining the KKR team, the 20-year-old is ready to be auctioned this year with a base price of Rs 30 lakhs.

Sakib was born in 2004 to Ali Ahmed Hussain, a resident of Dargah Mohalla in Sadar block, Gopalganj district, approximately 185 km from Patna. His father was a farmer, and his mother was a housewife. The family struggled financially. As his father grew older, he developed knee problems and had to give up farming.

In his youth, Sakib Hussain dreamt not of cricketing glory but of serving his country in the army. He began each day with a run, driven by this ambition. Observing his speed, his acquaintances suggested he try his hand at cricket. Intrigued, Sakib took up the sport, discovering a passion that would shape his destiny.

In his early days, Saqib supplemented his income by participating in tennis ball tournaments. These matches would earn him up to Rs 500-1000. These earnings proved vital in supporting his household expenses. In addition to his prowess on the tennis court, Saqib also emerged as a capable cricketer, known for his right-arm fast-medium bowling and contributed as a lower-order batsman.

According to Saqib, the late Mintu Bhaiya played a pivotal role in his journey. Saqib shared that Mintu Bhaiya always encouraged him to aim high. He recounted his participation in the 2021 Bihar Cricket League held in Patna and his time in Chandigarh playing Under-19 cricket. Saqib also acknowledges his coach, Robin Singh, as a significant mentor in his cricketing career.

Sakib pinpoints Chandigarh as the turning point in his life, which led him to the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. An opportunity to play in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy proved pivotal. His impressive performance during the live broadcast caught the attention of several Indian Premier League teams, including Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Chennai Super Kings, all of whom expressed interest. Subsequently, he was chosen as a net bowler for Chennai Super Kings. His bowling even drew praise from Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly.

A video released by KKR shared the story of Sakib Hussain’s struggle. In the video, his mother recounts a time when Sakib lacked even proper shoes for fast bowling. Determined to support her son’s aspirations, she sold her jewellery to provide him with the necessary funds.

Despite going unsold in the initial round of the IPL 2024 auction, a first in his career, Sakib responded with determination and a commitment to further improvement. He was subsequently picked up by the Kolkata team in the same auction. Although he did not get an opportunity to play, Sakib is currently training to bowl at speeds ranging from 150 to 155 kmph for the upcoming season.

This year, in the Ranji Trophy match between Punjab and Bihar, Sakib took four wickets for 114 runs, the best bowling figures of his career. He also took two wickets against Karnataka. So far, he has been able to play only two matches.

Last year, Sakib Hussain was acquired by the IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), at his base price of Rs 20 lakh. Currently representing the Bihar team in Ranji matches, he is set to enter the IPL 2025 auction with a base price of Rs 30 lakh.