A phrase of reward from legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has twice earned leg-spinner Rahul Sharma a contemporary lease of life. When he had dismissed Tendulkar throughout an IPL sport in 2011 enjoying for Pune Warriors, tall and lanky Rahul had caught consideration together with his leg-break. Tendulkar put in a phrase of reward for the Jalandhar-born spinner.

People would evaluate him with India’s most profitable leg-spinner Anil Kumble and inside months he bagged workforce India berth. A facial nerve dysfunction affected his eyes throughout his IPL third season enjoying for Deccan Chargers however he labored with the medical doctors to come back out of the issue. A nagging again damage adopted by a knee damage, additional put Rahul’s cricket profession at stake. It was in 2014 that he final performed his first-class in addition to IPL sport. In pursuit of constructing a comeback in IPL in addition to for Punjab within the home circuit, Rahul was decided to work his means again. Despite working onerous on his health for nearly 4 years, he did not make a comeback. His world got here crashing when he misplaced his father to publish covid problems in 2021. With no hope of constructing a comeback once more for Punjab and going through monetary challenges, Rahul mulled retirement and eyed leagues to proceed his ardour.

“I had been depressed for years for picking up multiple injuries and crucial junctures of my cricket career. I trained and worked on my rehab at the National Cricket Academy. But chances never came by easily. That’s when I lost my father and my job. Financial issues were starring at me. That’s when I spoke to Sachin paaji. He remembered how badly I wanted to play competitive cricket again. So, he offered me to play for India XI in the Road Safety World Series. That’s when I decided to retire and start my second innings with this league.” During the tense occasions, Indian ladies’s cricket workforce coach Ramesh Powar steered Rahul to seek the advice of well-known psychologist Mugdha Bhavare.

“Her classes helped me come out of that part. Now I will probably be eyeing international leagues too within the coming months. I must earn and likewise proceed with my ardour for the game,” said Rahul, who has played four ODIs and two T20Is for India. Rahul did make a comeback playing for Jalandhar last season in the Punjab inter-district tournament but his chances faded with young spinners Mayank Markande and Abhishek Sharma hogging the spotlight for the state team. Rahul, who was trained by Tony Lamba and Davinder Kalia in Jalandhar was once touted to be the next big thing after Anil Kumble when it came to leg-spin. However, injuries cut short his cricket career.

“I could not get a single chance at state level to showcase my bowling after recovering from my injuries. New generation of spinners had also cemented their places. But I am happy that various leagues across the globe are serving as huge platforms. I need money to sustain and give a good life. Losing my father to Covid has been the biggest tragedy. Had Sachin paaji not given me this chance, I would have gotten into depression again. Now I am chasing other leagues too,” added Rahul, who performed 22 first-class, 35 list-A and 74 T20s in home cricket.

Season 2 of the Road Safety World Series is ready to be performed from September 10 to October 2 in Lucknow, Jodhpur, Cuttack, and Hyderabad. The second season of RSWS will function a complete of eight groups as New Zealand legends are included within the league. The groups to take part within the 2022 version are India legends, Australia legends, Sri Lanka legends, West Indies legends, South Africa legends, Bangladesh legends, England legends, Se and New Zealand legends.

“Punjab Cricket Association has backed me by way of my journey. I need to play for some years after which most likely get into completely different position and provides again to the game,” added Rahul.