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Former India fast bowler Salil Ankola has recently opened up about his struggles after being dropped from the Indian team during the early 2000s. Ankola was one of the top pacers from Mumbai, who made his international debut in 1989 along with Sachin Tendulkar. He went on to play one Test and 20 ODIs for the Indian team but soon was shown the door from the national set-up.
While speaking to Cricbuzz, He talked about his disappointment after being left out of the Indian which caused him to hate cricket. He said, "There were times I would be dropped from the Indian team and get picked for India A, only to be carrying drinks there as well. From 2001 onwards, I was totally off cricket. One big mistake I did in 2001 was that Sony offered me a job in cricket and I refused. I don't know why. I don't know why I took such a stupid decision, but I just refused. Maybe I was so put off by cricket that I stopped watching the game.
I was actually missing cricket: Ankola
The 54-year-old then expressed how his perspective in life changed as he crossed the age of 50. He addressed how he started missing the sport. "I was almost 52 then. Once you cross 50, your perception changes. I don't know how and why, but it does. You realize that you were adamant about so many things but those things actually didn't make sense. They are only troubling you. Like my example of not wanting to go back to cricket. But in the bargain, I was actually missing cricket," he added.
I don't have so much patience, I'm a very short-tempered guy: Ankola
The Mumbai speedster opened up about how he tried returning to cricket as a coach but couldn't manage to do it. He opined. "I wanted to come back as a coach. But when I had a look at what the scenario was, I realised coaching was not my cup of tea."
"Coaching in the 1990s and coaching now, there is a massive difference. I had even enrolled at NCA for Level 2 coach, but then I wrote to Rahul [Dravid] and said that I won't be able to come because I don't see myself as a coach. I don't have so much patience, I'm a very short-tempered guy," Ankola added.