There was a time when parents discouraged their children from pursuing cricket as a career due to concerns over low pay, injuries, and uncertain futures post-retirement. However, the scenario has drastically changed. Cricketers are now among the richest sportspersons globally, with significantly higher salaries and skyrocketing earnings through brand endorsements.
With this shift, many parents are now eager to push their children toward a career in cricket. Here’s a look at five young Indian cricketers who owe their success to their fathers.
#1 Harshit Rana
Harshit Rana received his maiden national call-up this month. Initially named in the T20I squad for the Zimbabwe tour as a replacement for Nitish Kumar Reddy, he later secured a spot in the ODI squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
Soon after his ODI team selection, Harshit thanked his father with a heartfelt Instagram post. In an interview with PTI, he shared:
“I believed in working hard but whenever I used to get hurt after being overlooked in age-group teams, I would sit in my room and start sobbing. My father Pradeep never ever gave up hope.”
Harshit also credited his father, Pradeep Rana, along with coaches Amit Bhandari and Gautam Gambhir, for his beautiful journey.
#2 Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill’s father, Lakhwinder, worked as a farmer in Fazilka, Punjab. Shubman is now the vice-captain of the Indian T20I team and the captain of the Gujarat Titans IPL team.
The journey wasn’t easy for Shubman, but his father supported him every step of the way. In 2007, Lakhwinder relocated 300 km from Chak Khere Wala to Mohali so Shubman could train properly. Lakhwinder missed work and family functions for his son’s future, and now, his son is a world-class cricketer.
#3 Nitish Kumar Reddy
Nitish Kumar Reddy was named in India’s T20I squad for the recent series against Zimbabwe but missed the tour due to injury. He earned his spot after winning the Emerging Player of the Season award in IPL 2024.
Nitish hails from a middle-class family in Visakhapatnam. His father, Mutyala Reddy, left his job to support Nitish’s cricketing dreams. Despite criticism, Mutyala believed in his son’s potential. Nitish shared in a chat with News18 CricketNext:
“Amid all the criticism, my father somehow believed that his son is going to make it big.”
#4 Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz Khan first made headlines in IPL 2015 with impressive performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Although his IPL career didn’t take off as expected, he dominated first-class cricket and broke into India’s Test team this year.
After his debut, Sarfaraz revealed that his father, Naushad Khan, had been nurturing his cricketing talent since he was six. When Sarfaraz received his maiden Test cap, Naushad became quite emotional. Naushad ran a club at John Bright tent ground, where Sarfaraz often slept as a toddler. Recognizing his son’s talent, Naushad dedicated his life to making Sarfaraz a cricketer.
#5 Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma’s father, Rajkumar, has played a huge role in the young all-rounder’s success. Rajkumar supported Abhishek through all his ups and downs in his cricketing journey.
Abhishek got out for a duck on his T20I debut against Zimbabwe earlier this month, but his father reminded him of his six-hitting ability. Following his father’s advice, Abhishek scored a century in his second T20I. During IPL 2024, Abhishek helped Sunrisers Hyderabad reach the final with a crucial spell of 2/24 in Qualifier 2. Abhishek acknowledged his father’s role in his development, noting that two years of hard work on his bowling paid off when it mattered most.
These stories highlight the pivotal role fathers have played in shaping the careers of these young cricketers, showcasing the power of unwavering support and belief.
