Sakib Hussain’s Rise Comes From Family Struggles And Mother’s Sacrifice
NEW DELHI -Rising Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Sakib Hussain has captured attention not only for his impressive IPL debut, but also for a journey marked by hardship, perseverance and family sacrifice. The story resurfaced after an old video from his stint with Kolkata Knight Riders went viral.
Coming from a modest background in Bihar’s Gopalganj district, Sakib’s early cricketing years were shaped by severe financial constraints, with even basic equipment beyond reach. “Shoes are very expensive. Proper bowling spikes cost around Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. If we spend that much on shoes, then what will we eat?” he said in the viral video.
His mother recalled the emotional strain of those days and the sacrifices the family made to support his ambition. “He started crying, saying, ‘Mummy, I don’t have shoes, how will I play?’ We didn’t have that kind of money. I had to sell my jewelry to somehow get him those shoes,” she said.
Despite limited means, Sakib’s rise in cricket was steady. He first served as a net bowler for Chennai Super Kings before being picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 2024 season. However, he did not feature in a match during his two seasons with the franchise.
Reflecting on his roots, Sakib said family responsibilities came early because of their circumstances. “I’m from Bihar, and my district, Gopalganj, is about 125 km from Patna. Back home, we don’t really have much. We are farmers. My father used to do farming, but then he developed a knee problem, so I told him he shouldn’t continue anymore,” he said.
His father described the struggles the family faced during that period. “Now I am the one who has to earn for the family. If I were ill, even arranging a single meal became something we had to think about,” he said.
Sakib’s introduction to cricket came through local encouragement rather than formal training. His father said some local coaches noticed him while he was doing morning runs at a nearby ground and encouraged him to try cricket.
He began with tennis-ball cricket, often travelling long distances to earn small match fees. “I used to play tennis-ball cricket, earning Rs 500, 600, 700, and sometimes even Rs 2,000 if I travelled about 150 km to play. From that point, I made up my mind that I had to pursue cricket,” Sakib said.
His performances soon reflected his potential. He made his T20 debut for Bihar cricket team in the 2022–23 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and impressed early, claiming 4/20 in just his second appearance at the age of 17. He later registered a five-wicket haul in the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy, returning figures of 6/41 against Arunachal Pradesh cricket team.
Those performances caught the attention of IPL scouts, and at the 2026 auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad secured his services for Rs 30 lakh.
He made an immediate impact on debut, playing a key role in Hyderabad’s win while defending a total of 217. After early breakthroughs left the opposition struggling, Sakib struck crucial blows, including dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal. He later broke a threatening partnership, removing Donovan Ferreira, Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi to seal the contest.
Sakib’s rise from a small village in Bihar to the IPL stage underscores a journey built on resilience, determination and a family’s unwavering support. (IANS)
