Left-arm fast bowler Chetan Sakariya featured in his first domestic game in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Saurashtra after not having played a single game since his injury in 2024. The pacer shared his inspiring comeback story after having lost all hope for a return to cricket.
Injuries are the biggest woes in a sportsman’s life. For cricketers, especially bowlers, a blow to their bowling arm can almost draw curtains on their career. Indian left-arm bowling sensation Chetan Sakariya from Saurashtra also struggled with the same in the early days of his career.
However, he made his return and played for the Kolkata Knight Riders last season in the IPL and finally gathered courage and returned to domestic Indian cricket with the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season.
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Chetan Sakariya on comeback from career-ending wrist injury
Once considered one of the finest young talents from India, Chetan Sakariya was considered one of the future superstars of fast bowling from the nation. He came to fame after winning the Ranji Trophy with Saurashtra in 2020.
However, his career took several unexpected blows. The first blow came in the form of a personal tragedy, but the concerning blow that almost ended his career came with a left-wrist injury in February 2024. The impact of the injury was such that Sakariya felt it would end his playing career.
“When I got injured, I thought I would never come back,” Sakariya told news agency PTI. However, the bowler recently made his return and is taking small steps towards a full-fledged return to the game. “Now, I am feeling very good after playing in this domestic season, feel so good after bowling for Saurashtra,” said the cricketer.
“It was very mentally challenging for me. I didn’t believe that I would be able to play cricket again. Some doctors told me that I might not be able to grip the ball again,” he added.
Sakariya opens up on the toughest phase of life and the support extended by friends and family
However, the wrist injury was not the first time Sakariya’s career was affected. He had to deal with a major challenge back in 2021, when he endured a massive family tragedy. Both his father and brother died around the same time.
Chetan Sakariya has revealed that it was the toughest phase of his life, and he was very young during that time; however, the incidents taught him about resilience. “So at that time, if I hadn’t been a cricketer, I don’t think I would have been able to come back to life. Now, I feel that if any tough situation comes in my life again, I am prepared for it. I know what I have to do,” he said.
Sakariya also claimed that his friends and family were a massive support during that time. They backed him and pushed him to play further again, and hence he started to rehab under the guidance of the Saurashtra Cricket Association.
Chetan Sakariya extends special mention to the KKR coaches for his rehab and training
Chetan Sakariya, despite not having played a single match in the 2024-25 domestic season, found a spot in the Kolkata Knight Riders camp, as he was called in to replace an injured Umran Malik. He extended his thanks to Chandrakanth Pandit, the former head coach of KKR, for the belief in him and for aiding his rehab and training in the KKR camp.
He further added that the presence of Bharat Arun, the former India bowling coach, in the camp helped Chetan Sakariya improve his knowledge of the game.
“He helped me work on my rhythm and skills. He told me how to advance in modern cricket. After working with Bharat sir for two and a half months, I have improved a lot in my knowledge of bowling,” he explained.
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