Abhishek Sakuja who left the Ranji Trophy for KPL and went on to become the highest wicket taker of KPL 2017, and retained by his team for this season of KPL, here is the ups and downs behind the success of this Services Ranji player.
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| Abhishek Sakuja |
Abhishek Sakuja has played along with big names in Indian cricket and one being the Indian captain Virat Kohli with whom he played during his school days. The list of other players extends as it goes on, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh, Siddharth kaul and many more when he played for the North zone in the Deodhar Trophy.
Sakuja often regarded as a bowler is basically an all-rounder who could be quite aggressive with the bat and could contribute to the team in both the departments. He plays for the Services Cricket team in the Ranji Trophy and has been part of the team in all the three formats of the game. Playing for Delhi under age teams before joining the Indian Air force, Abhishek Sakuja shifted to play for Services. After being posted to Bangalore,thanks to the Indian Air Force, he started playing in the KSCA league, and then later he went to play in the Karnataka Premier League. During the first two seasons he didn't have much success in the KPL, but 2017 was his best as he went to become the purple cap winner for that season. Being part of the KPL 2017 was a huge gamble for Sakuja as he had his Ranji Trophy selections at the same time as the KPL, but Sakuja chose the latter, with a strong determination to be the best and he was successful in his approach. This performances made sure that he was retained by his Hubli Tigers franchise for the 2018 edition of the Karnataka Premier League.
Abhishek Sakuja speaks to CricKarnataka where he shares about the ups and downs of his cricket career.
Abhishek Sakuja, how do you feel about being retained by your team, and what's the preparation for this season as there is a lot of expectations from you, considering your last year's performance?
I'm very happy that my team retained me. I'm thankful to them for having faith in me and this is a confidence booster for me. Another thing I'm happy about is that I again get a chance to play under R Vinay Kumar. He is one of the best Captain's I have ever played under, so I'm really excited to comeback and perform well again.
Coming to preparations, I have already started my training, I'm bowling in the nets and what I do is make a simulation in my mind and start bowling in those areas. Apart from that, I don't really have any special preparations, I will just bowl my natural ones.
I'm very happy that my team retained me. I'm thankful to them for having faith in me and this is a confidence booster for me. Another thing I'm happy about is that I again get a chance to play under R Vinay Kumar. He is one of the best Captain's I have ever played under, so I'm really excited to comeback and perform well again.
Coming to preparations, I have already started my training, I'm bowling in the nets and what I do is make a simulation in my mind and start bowling in those areas. Apart from that, I don't really have any special preparations, I will just bowl my natural ones.
The KPL 2017, was an amazing season for you, Winning the purple cap. How did that happen.
It was challenging for me as I had my Ranji Trophy selections at the same time as the Karnataka Premier League so I had to choose only one out of it. I thought a lot about it and finally decided that I should be playing the KPL and before leaving, I told myself that I wanted to be the be the highest wicket taker and I stuck on to my basics, I had good line and length and I tried to bowl wicket to wicket. It all went my way and I ended the season on a high and I believe all the risk behind it were worth the success.
It was challenging for me as I had my Ranji Trophy selections at the same time as the Karnataka Premier League so I had to choose only one out of it. I thought a lot about it and finally decided that I should be playing the KPL and before leaving, I told myself that I wanted to be the be the highest wicket taker and I stuck on to my basics, I had good line and length and I tried to bowl wicket to wicket. It all went my way and I ended the season on a high and I believe all the risk behind it were worth the success.
Tell us something about your early life, how did cricket start for you?
I was in Delhi, and when I was young, my uncle is used to play with his friends every Sunday and they would take me along and my job was to look after thier kit bag when they played.
One fine day, a player was injured in the team so I got a chance to play along with those older ones and I bowled well that day taking 2 crucial wickets and that's how it all started.
After that, upon the suggestion of Yashpal sir, who was my coach. I enrolled at LBS academy in Delhi, which has also produced Gautam Gambhir and Unmukt Chand. I wasn't financially very strong, I couldn't even afford a cricket kit and I used my team's kit and travelled in local Delhi buses with those heavy kit bags and I started playing well in my school and that's when I played a lot with Virat Kohli and others. I worked both on my batting and bowling and went on to become an all-rounder.
I was in Delhi, and when I was young, my uncle is used to play with his friends every Sunday and they would take me along and my job was to look after thier kit bag when they played.
One fine day, a player was injured in the team so I got a chance to play along with those older ones and I bowled well that day taking 2 crucial wickets and that's how it all started.
After that, upon the suggestion of Yashpal sir, who was my coach. I enrolled at LBS academy in Delhi, which has also produced Gautam Gambhir and Unmukt Chand. I wasn't financially very strong, I couldn't even afford a cricket kit and I used my team's kit and travelled in local Delhi buses with those heavy kit bags and I started playing well in my school and that's when I played a lot with Virat Kohli and others. I worked both on my batting and bowling and went on to become an all-rounder.
Looks like you had to struggle a lot in your early years, so tell us more about what happened next.
Well, most people think I'm just a bowler, but I'm an all-rounder who can bat as well. So I had some good performances in my school and later I gave me trails for Delhi under 16's and got selected. Later I even played for Delhi under 19's.
I was then offered a job at the Indian Air Force and that's how I got into the Services Cricket team.
Well, most people think I'm just a bowler, but I'm an all-rounder who can bat as well. So I had some good performances in my school and later I gave me trails for Delhi under 16's and got selected. Later I even played for Delhi under 19's.
I was then offered a job at the Indian Air Force and that's how I got into the Services Cricket team.
Take us through your journey with the Services team.
I made my debut for the Services in 2008, in the Vijay Hazare trophy. Then from 2010-2014 I was a regular players in the Services team, I played Ranji as well as the T20 for them. In 2013, I had some good performances and I got selected for the North Zone team in the Deodhar Trophy under the captaincy of Harbhajan Singh.
I made my debut for the Services in 2008, in the Vijay Hazare trophy. Then from 2010-2014 I was a regular players in the Services team, I played Ranji as well as the T20 for them. In 2013, I had some good performances and I got selected for the North Zone team in the Deodhar Trophy under the captaincy of Harbhajan Singh.
You were playing in North India, how did you get into the KPL ?
In 2014, I got posted in Bangalore, by the Indian Air force. So here I started playing division cricket. In 2015 and 2016 I was part Ballary Tuskers and Belagavi Panthers respectively.
In 2015, I didn't play the league as I had an injury, in 2016 mid season I fractured my hand and I had to end that season mid way, again in 2017 the Hubli Tigers bought me and I went on to be the highest wicket taker.
In the recent KSCA 2nd division, I was the highest wicket taker and I will hope to continue the same in this year's KPL.
In 2014, I got posted in Bangalore, by the Indian Air force. So here I started playing division cricket. In 2015 and 2016 I was part Ballary Tuskers and Belagavi Panthers respectively.
In 2015, I didn't play the league as I had an injury, in 2016 mid season I fractured my hand and I had to end that season mid way, again in 2017 the Hubli Tigers bought me and I went on to be the highest wicket taker.
In the recent KSCA 2nd division, I was the highest wicket taker and I will hope to continue the same in this year's KPL.
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| Sakuja with the Belagavi Panthers |
What are your expectations for this year's KPL ?
I will just stick on to my basics. I'm working on my batting as well, because in this format of the game, it's always a an added bonus to be a all-rounder. Last season I didn't get to bat so may be if I'm getting a chance this time, then I will show my batting skills as well.
I'm hoping to be the highest wicket taker, this season as well.
Anything that you would want to say about CricKarnataka.
CricKarnataka is promoting players and introducing the players to the whole world. There are so many underdogs in Karnataka cricket and it's a good platform for people to know about such players. All the best to you.
Thank you Abhishek for speaking to us, we are very happy to know your story. We hope this CricKarnataka post inspires more people. We wish you all the very best for your upcoming KPL season and all your future endeavors.
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