Why Irrfan Khan gave up a career in cricket

ST Staff
06.30 PM

Legendary Bollywood Irrfan Khan who passed away recently once wanted to be a cricketer.

Known for his wide variety of work, such as Maqbool, Life... in a Metro, Paan Singh Tomar and The Lunchbox, apart from many big-budget Hollywood films such as Slumdog Millionaire, Life of Pi, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and the Jurassic World, Irrfan Khan was regarded as one of the best actors in the world.

He passed away on Wednesday at the age of 53 in Mumbai after suffering from colon infection.

But do you know the versatile actor who stole millions of hearts with his acting skills and his simple nature off-screen was an aspiring cricketer, back in the day?

After the legend passed away, his childhood friend Bharat Bhatnagar reveals that he was an all-rounder in cricket.

While talking to The Indian Express, Bhatnagar said, “It was the period around 1984-85, and he used to play with us at the 11-star cricket club.

“Every evening from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm, we used to practice at the erstwhile Ayurvedic College of Jaipur (now known as National Institute of Ayurveda) which was right opposite my home. Irrfan used to stay at his house which was called ‘Saeeda Mazil’ near Subhas Chowk, around 10 minutes away from the ground.”

Bhatnagar also said that his mother (Sayeeda Begum) was very strict and wanted him to focus on his studies. Hence, at times he had to lie to play a few tournaments with them. His father was supportive, though.

According to Bhatnagar, Irrfan’s favourite cricketers at that time were Kapil Dev and Gundappa Vishwanath also he was a fan of Pakistan’s Imran Khan and Zaheer Abbas.

Bhatnagar said, “Irrfan might have become a good cricketer if he had received more backing from his family, but destiny had planned something else for him.”

The Hindi Medium actor was once selected to play in the CK Nayudu Trophy, a tournament for Under-23 players in domestic circuit of India.

The late actor in an interview with The Telegraph had once said, “I played cricket. I wanted to become a cricketer. I was an all-rounder and the youngest one in my team in Jaipur. I wanted to make a career out of it. I was selected for the CK Nayudu tournament I think, and then I needed money and didn’t know who to ask. That day I decided I cannot pursue it. I couldn’t have asked for Rs 600 at that time.”

He once stated that he gave up on his career in cricket because he couldn’t manage for the fees of Rs 200-250.

Irrfan apart from cricket was good at swimming according to Bhatnagar and also loved many sports such as tennis and football.

The loss to the cricketing fraternity became the gain of the entertainment world. The Padma Shri recipient was an actor par brilliance but imagine what if he had become a cricketer!

Photograph of Irrfan Khan watching a cricket match in 2018 at Lord’s is making a buzz on social media. He had visited the cricket's Mecca while undergoing his cancer treatment in London.

 

 

 

​ ​ ​
​