At 26, Sahil Kukreja calls it quits

In cricket, the job profile of an opener can be arduous to say the least. And Sahil Kukreja has plied his trade with single-minded determination.

After playing for six seasons, scoring over 3,000 runs and ‘building’ partnerships, the Mumbai batsman has decided that it’s time to ‘build’ people’s dreams.

The 26-year-old right-hander, who has been a part of Mumbai team’s last three Ranji Trophy triumphs, is quitting the game in order to assist his older brothers in the family-run business, Kukreja Builders.

The youngster’s choice has stunned the city’s cricket folk  for many think he has a lot more to offer. But at the end of the day, it’s his call and they respect that.

Kukreja is known for his clarity of thought and that helped him in taking this decision. “Any youngster who chooses cricket dreams of playing for India. I did manage to play for the national U-19 side, but I realised I can’t go the distance. Hence, I’ve decided to give up the game. No one’s forced me to join the business. It’s my choice,” an emotional Kukreja told DNA on Tuesday.

Kukreja plans to do an MBA in the UK and he’s zeroed in on London’s Middlesex University. “I’ll go there next year. Right now, I am learning the basics from my brothers,” he said. “Someone told me the university is close to Lord’s. So that’s an added advantage,” he laughed. He, however, plans to continue playing for the Cricket Club of India in the Kanga League that’s played on Sundays. “I can’t give up the game completely, can I?”
Kukreja is also a two-time Maharashtra state table-tennis champion. “That was long, long away. I was the U-12 and U-13 champion in 1996 and 1997,” he recalled. Not many people have represented their state in two games. So, quite an achievement that!

Former Mumbai coach Praveen  Amre believes he hasn’t seen a more sincere player. “Sahil’s perseverance will hold him in good stead. His inputs during the team meetings were invaluable. I wish him all the best,” Amre said.

Teammate Ajit Agarkar lauded his clear thinking. “Sahil asked me to write a reference letter for his UK admission. I’ve stressed on his qualities like hard work. He’s one of the best players of short-pitched bowling. He went to an Australian academy and sorted out his problems. We’ll miss him in the dressing room,” he said.