A few months ago, I got a taste of what every cricket lover dreams of — IPL auction vibes in real life.

Our South City community in Bangalore hosted its first-ever 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 (𝐒𝐏𝐋) — complete with a live player auction, team franchises, and bidding drama.

Each franchise was given 𝟐 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐬 (virtual money), and I was sold for 𝟏.𝟎𝟐 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐬 — not real money, but the feeling was priceless as it was highest bid of the SPL

I watched the auction live on Instagram with my son 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭, and it felt exactly like watching an IPL auction — except this time, it was my name being called and bid for.

The energy and joy were unforgettable.

But just days before the SPL tournament, during an advanced workout, I suffered a 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲.

The pain was sharp, and I had to rush for an MRI.

Two doctors independently suggested 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐲 — a tough moment to process for someone who has lived and breathed cricket for years, especially after all the build-up leading to the tournament

Since the team was built around me, I still participated — wearing a knee cap, hoping to contribute at-least with the bat.

But the injury was on my 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐞 — my front foot — which blocked my natural flow of shots.

There was guilt that I couldn’t be fully available for my team.

After that, I paused, focused on healing, and took a holistic recovery path — working with an expert on knee correction and body alignment.

Progress was slow but steady.

And four months later came the real test —

🏆 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐲𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐚 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 (𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭)

An 𝟖-𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 with an ICC Champions Trophy–like format — 2 groups of 4 teams.

This wasn’t about trophies — it was about testing my 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, also just wanted to be part of the tournament.

I avoided running (requested a runner) and bowling, took the wicket-keeper role.

We fought our way to the 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 but lost a close low-scoring thriller 💔

Still, the results were deeply satisfying & I was awarded for:

🏅 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧 (𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫) – 152 runs in 5 matches (Avg 38, SR 183.13)

🧤 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭-𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 – 12 dismissals (11 catches – all taken!)

⭐ 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟒 𝐌𝐕𝐏 of the tournament

Recovery is still in progress — and holistically, it may take another six months or more to regain full strength. But the key is to keep showing up — one step (and one stretch) at a time

Cricket keeps teaching me lessons that apply everywhere — even in the corporate world:

🏏 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 when things don’t go as planned.

🏏 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 when conditions change.

🏏 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 when you give everything and still end up on the losing side.

🏏 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 when recovery takes longer than expected.

From getting IPL auction vibes to facing injury, rebuilding strength, and returning to the field — this journey reminded me why I always say:

“𝐶𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 𝑖𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎 𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑒. 𝐼𝑡’𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒.”

Looking forward to how things pan out in next 3-6 months.