Salil Ankola, the former India cricket team pacer who had ventured into acting, has returned as the chairman of selectors of the Mumbai cricket team.
Salil Ankola, the former India cricket team pacer, had made his mark as an actor in several Bollywood and TV shows when he decided to quit cricket. However, more than 20 years after he hung his cricket boots up, he is finally back in the game. On his Facebook wall, he posted an update which thrilled many people who follow cricket. In the post, he stated, “Back to where I belong. Proud to be back to Cricket as Chairman of selectors Mumbai senior Ranji trophy team. Back to my first love. Thanks to my association and fellow cricketers for having faith and trust in me. Looking forward. Thanks for always being there for me kiddos and Ria Banerjee Ankola.” This update was confirmation that Salil Ankola was now the chairman of selectors for all first-class tournaments of the Mumbai cricket team.
From being an actor who thrilled audiences with his performances on TV with serials like Kora Kaagaz, Shanidev, Bigg Boss as well as in the Bollywood movie Kurukshetra starring Sanjay Dutt in his early career, the move back to cricket was a bit surprising. But, in an interview with Times of India, Salil Ankola revealed that the move to apply for the chairman of selectors post was suggested actually a year-and-a-half back.
“Bees saal acting kar li (I acted for 20 years). But there was always a certain emptiness in my stomach. Cricket was my first love and I was always missing it. They suggested that I apply for the post of Chairman of the selection committee of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy. But I never knew that I would get such a coveted post,” Salil Ankola said.
End of acting?
However, Salil Ankola revealed that he might do some acting if there is spare time and he remembered some of the roles that he did. “I did a few movies too here and there but I was not enjoying acting. I refused 17 web series in the lockdown phase because I cannot kiss on screen. They may call it the evolution of cinema but that's not my cup of tea. I enjoyed 'Josh' the most and I liked 'Kora Kagaz' too. The most demanding and thrilling was 'Shani' where I played Surya Dev. I'll act in my spare time. I'll accept only some great roles, that too if I have time on hand,” Salil Ankola said.
Salil Ankola played first-class cricket for Maharashtra, regularly opening the bowling. Ankola's consistent performances for Maharashtra earned him a call for representing India during their tour of Pakistan in 1989–90. After the first Test match at Karachi, he was dropped for the subsequent matches in the series owing to injuries. Ankola was called for the Indian ODI team during 1993, eventually led to being a part of the 1996 Cricket World Cup. At age 28, Ankola retired due to a sudden development of bone tumor in his left shin bone (osteoid osteoma) because of which he could not run for two years. In subsequent years, it was reported that Ankola suffered from depression but in 2010, there was a benefit match organised for Salil Ankola and it involved the appearance of MS Dhoni in a Twenty20 match between Sachin Tendulkar 11 and Sourav Ganguly 11.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Salil Ankola")
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}