Thread by @thebetterindia

#IPL2023Auction
"My father's dreams for me were connected to cricket. I knew if I did well in cricket, his soul would rest in peace", says 24-year-old #ChetanSakariya who made quite an impression with his IPL debut.
@Sakariya55

#IPL #IPL2023 #Cricket #Passion #Inspiration

Hailing from the small town of Vartej in Gujarat, Sakariya was the sole breadwinner for his family. He worked at his uncle's stationery shop in Bhavnagar as his father, a lorry driver, was bedridden after suffering a few accidents.

In return, his uncle helped nurture his cricketing dreams. After much hard work, the boy who once didn't have money to buy cricket shoes got a chance to play in the Saurashtra under-16 team.

After impressing Saurashtra, Sakariya became a known name overnight when he was picked up by Rajasthan Royals at the IPL 2021 auction for INR 1.2 crore.

Unfortunately, Sakariya’s father lost his battle with Covid-19 while the pacer was up in his debut IPL season.

"People say 'stop IPL'. I want to tell them something,I am the only bread earner in my family. Cricket is the only source of my earnings.I was able to give better treatment to my father because of the money I earned from IPL. It helped my family in its toughest time",says Chetan.