Indian cricketers have managed to win million of hearts with their game. Well, these sports men have made appearances in movies and TV shows. But, can you guess who this cricketer is who left his full-fledged career to pursue acting? This fast bowler cricketer, left cricket to become an actor and is ruling hearts now. Moreover, the star also played in the World Cup for India with Sachin Tendulkar. He tried his luck in Bollywood but failed.
The actor-cricketer is none other than Sahil Ankola. Well, the TV star was a right-arm fast-medium bowler who made his debut for the Indian cricket team against Pakistan in a Test match in 1989. Sachin Tendulkar and Waqar Younis made their debuts in the same match. Sahil went on to play 20 One Day Internationals from 1989 to 1997. Sahil also played for India's squad in the 1996 Cricket World Cup. Sahil played a match against Sri Lanka in Delhi but failed to take a single wicket in five overs. After his bad performance in cricket, he left the game and tried his luck in acting. He was 28 when he made his acting debut with the show Chahat Aur Nafrat in 1997. He did shows like Kora Kagaz, Kehta Hai Dil, Vikraal Aur Gabraal, and Rishtey. Within no time, he became a star and made females fall for his looks.
Sahil also moved to Bollywood and did films like Kurukshetra, Pitaah, Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne, and Riwayat. But, these films tanked at the box office. In 2008, he started rejecting film and TV offers as he reportedly got addicted to alcohol. He then enrolled himself in a rehabilitation centre, Salil made his comeback to television in 2013 with Savitri - EK Prem Kahani. His second. Salil made his comeback to television in 2013 with Savitri - EK Prem Kahani and even played the role of Surya Dev in the show Karmaphal Daata Shani. He then became a member of the Indian team's senior selection committee.
