Mumbai’s Salil Ankola once bowled thunderbolts that echoed across stadiums, sharing his international debut with Sachin Tendulkar in the iconic 1989 Pakistan tour Test at Karachi. A promising pacer, he featured in one Test, 20 ODIs, and the 1996 World Cup team before injuries sidelined him at 28, ending a career brimming with potential.
Undeterred, he pivoted to entertainment. Television became his new field, with memorable appearances in CID, Kahata Hai Dil, Kora Kagaz, and the spooky Shssh… Koi Hai. Films followed: a tough cop in Kurukshetra (2000) with Sanjay Dutt, plus Pitaah, Chura Liya Hai Tumne, and Silence Please… The Dressing Room. Big Boss Season 1 in 2006 with Salman Khan showcased his charisma.
Yet, real life delivered devastating blows. Retirement bred isolation, fueling a severe alcohol dependency from 1999-2011. Ankola confessed drinking became his constant companion, eclipsing family interventions and rehab attempts. Cricket broadcasts triggered agony, so he tuned them out. His days blurred into a haze, culminating in dire health crises.
Rock bottom came in 2011 rehab, where World Cup fever sparked revival. Embracing sobriety as a medical battle, backed by loved ones, he endured 12 ICU stays and three near-death experiences by 2014. Victorious, Ankola now thrives in cricket administration as former Mumbai chief selector and Indian team selector until August 2024. From pitch to recovery, his path inspires countless dreamers facing their own curveballs.