Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) fast bowler Sakib Hussain has shared an emotional story about his journey from a small town in Bihar to the Indian Premier League, following his breakthrough season in IPL 2026.
The young pacer spoke openly about the struggles he faced in his early years, including financial hardship, lack of proper equipment, and the sacrifices made by his family to support his cricket dreams.
‘I Didn’t Even Have Proper Shoes’
Recalling his difficult childhood, Sakib said there was a time when even basic cricket shoes felt out of reach.
"There was a time I did not have any shoes,” Sakib said. I couldn't even think about owning a pair of shoes that expensive. How could I wear shoes that cost Rs 12,000-15,000?" he added while speaking about the cricket shoes gifted to him by SRH teammate Ishan Kishan.
He explained that he used to play tennis-ball cricket in Gopalganj, Bihar, earning small amounts from local matches just to support his training and help his family.
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Struggles at Home and Family Sacrifice
Sakib also shared how tough life was at home. He and his brother would wake up early to practice, and later help their father with farming after he developed knee problems.
"The shoes bought off the roadside for Rs 200-300 wore out soon. The sole would tear. Without spikes, my foot kept slipping and my ankles got sprained many times," Sakib recalled.
One of the most emotional moments in his story came when he spoke about his mother’s sacrifice.
"Mummy, joota chahiye. Bina joote ke, bowling nahin ho payega hum se [Mom, I need shoes, without shoes I can't bowl]," Sakib remembered telling his mother.
His mother eventually sold her wedding jewellery to buy him proper cricket shoes, a moment he still remembers deeply.
"That is how my journey started," Sakib said emotionally.
Turning Doubts Into Motivation
Sakib also spoke about how people around him doubted his ability to feature in the big leagues like IPL.
"Tumhari tarah lakhon player hain, tum kuch bhi kar lo tum nahin khel paayega [There are millions like you; whatever you do, you can't play on a professional level]," Sakib recalled hearing from people around him.
Instead of giving up, he chose to let his performances speak for him on the field.
Rise Through Local Cricket to IPL
His talent was first noticed in Bihar’s local cricket circuit and later supported by district coaches. Coach Robin Singh also played an important role in shaping his early career.
Strong performances in age-group cricket and the Bihar Cricket League helped him move closer to professional cricket.
He was first picked by Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024, but did not get a game before being released.
Later, Sunrisers Hyderabad gave him another opportunity, backing him as part of their young fast-bowling group. The IPL 2026 season turned out to be his big breakthrough. Sakib impressed with his pace, energy, and ability to trouble top batters consistently, making him one of SRH’s most promising uncapped players.