On the eve of Valentine’s Day, as Delhi indulged in its ritual of rehearsed romance, Sohaib Khan courted something far more intimate. His own past. Under the floodlights of the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the winter air was heavy with memories of the boy who once dreamed of being here.
At 66 for 4 in the 13th over, SAE’s chase of 151 against Canada was a stutter. But then Sohaib entered the squad. It was a tumultuous scene to the outsider; it was a homecoming for those who knew his way. Sohaib, batting alongside Aryansh Sharma, was soaked in the pressure. With the attitude of a man who knew the scent of the city, he relaxed in the closing overs and guided the UAE to a historic victory with a bruising 51 off 29 balls. It was only their second win in T20 World Cup history and it happened in the city that first stole his heart.
Three days later, the flirtation turned into a full-fledged love affair. Facing an Afghan attack with the wizardry of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sohaib remained undaunted. He dismantled them using a a clinical 68 off 48 balls to take UAE to a competitive 160. The fifties on the biggest stage of all.
For the 27-year-old, the familiarity of the crease was no accident. His association with Delhi dates back more than a decade. Sohaib was born and brought up in Gaya, Bihar. Sohaib’s first real taste of the professional grind came at Jamia Millia Islamia, just a few miles down the road from the stadium where he now stood as a World Cup hero. He always dreamed of these milestones; he just never imagined he would achieve them in the deep blue Emirates rather than India.
Sohaib Khan has played four ODIs and six T20Is for the UAE so far (Getty Images)
Every odyssey has its starting point and for Sohaib it was the sun-baked land of Kothi in Gaya. In a region where sports infrastructure was often a luxury, his sibling ignited a spark.
“Growing up in Kotia, Gaya, facilities were really limited at that time,” reflects Sohaib during his chat with IndiaToday.in.
“I watched my elder brother Altamash Khan because he was the first to play cricket. He was sent to a boarding school in Gaya and learned cricket there. He was an all-rounder. When he came home for holidays, he would give me tips and coach me.”
Fueled by the crackle of a transistor radio and the flickering images of the 2003 World Cup, these backyard sessions formed his cricketing DNA. While the world worshiped at the altar of Tendulkar and Sehwag, it was the long-haired wicketkeeper from the neighboring state who really captured its imagination.
“My first memory of watching cricket was the 2003 World Cup,” he says.
“At that time I was watching Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar. But I was fascinated watching MS Dhoni before the T20 World Cup in 2007. He changed the trend with his style of play. I started playing tennis-ball cricket and my family always supported me – my elder brother and my father, especially.”
DREAMS GAIN WINGS IN DELHI
At 14, Sohaib left the familiar comfort of Bihar for the competitive cauldron of Delhi. He went from the chaos of tennis-ball cricket to the disciplined craft of red and white leather balls when he enrolled in the Jamia Millia Islamia school system.
In 2017, he felt ready for the big leagues. He returned to Bihar hoping that the state’s re-entry into the BCCI (in 2018) would give him a platform. He dominated the district matches and earned invitations to the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy selection camps at the Jagjeevan Stadium in Patna. A ticket to the white ball parties was at hand, but the last door remained stubbornly locked.
“I started playing professional cricket at Jamia when I was 14 or 15,” recalls Sohaib.
“I started participating in Ranji Trophy camps in 2017. I played well at the district level and attended a few camps for Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali. I did well in Patna but things didn’t work out for me.”
Despite his academic pursuits in sociology at Jamia, the dream of professional cricket suffocated under the weight of missed opportunities. Then came 2020. The pandemic had silenced the stadiums and the silence was deafening for the young man from Gaya.
DESERT SHIFT
Life changed rapidly for Sohaib in 2021. He got married and with the responsibility of a family now on his shoulders, the dream of an Indian domestic cap increasingly seemed like a luxury he could no longer afford. That’s when a friend suggested a leap of faith: Dubai.
“After the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, we didn’t know how long the break would be,” says Sohaib.
“I got married in 2021, so I thought it was time to move on. My friend Uzair Ahmed was traveling to Dubai and asked me if I wanted to join him. He told me I could try cricket in the UAE. We planned to work during the day and play cricket in the evening. That was our plan. He is the person who motivated me to travel.”
However, the reality of the UAE was far from the glossy Instagram life that the city often projects. Sohaib has become a man of many hats. None of them have cricket hats, at least not during office hours.
“Initially when I moved to Dubai, it was hard to get a job,” he says.
“But I played cricket. I was in sales at first; at that time it was hard to manage a job and cricket. I worked in different fields – real estate, then travel, then financial advisers. I did many jobs during the day to survive. The first two years were very difficult to manage both.”
However, the ruthless crushing paid off in the end. His performances in the domestic leagues under the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) began to turn around. The financial advisor was becoming a pitcher’s nightmare by day.
THE POWER OF HOME
The emotional toll of Sohaib’s journey was largely borne by those he left behind. The decision to leave his new bride in Bihar while he pursued an uncertain future in the desert was a gamble of the highest order.
During this upheaval, Sohaib attributes his stability to the women in his life. Support from his wife and family became his greatest currency.
“I was newly married in 2021. It was a difficult decision to leave my wife at home,” he says. “I can appreciate her, she fought. When you’re married, everyone wants to stay with their family. But I have to thank my in-laws and my parents for taking care of her. She’s a brave lady, my wife. She supported me, supported me every time I had doubts.”
Sohaib’s professional breakthrough coincided with a personal breakthrough as if scripted by a Bollywood director.
“We had a daughter six months ago. She was a lucky charm, I must say,” says Sohaib.
“I made my One-Day International debut when she was born. I have to dedicate this journey to them as well.”
NEW CORE MEMBER
The Sohaib Khan of 2026 is no longer on the sidelines and is struggling to find his place. It is now firmly part of the UAE’s plans. Captain Muhammad Waseem recently said what many have already begun to see. In less than a year after his debut, Sohaib has grown into an important member of the team’s batting core. For someone who once watched Waseem and Alishan Sharafa from afar and hoped for a chance of their own, this recognition holds special meaning.
“I watched them,” says Sohaib. “What they have done for UAE cricket is unbelievable. I feel really lucky to have been officially recognized as a key member of the team. My seniors and juniors have supported me and never made me feel like a rookie. The management and coaching staff have also shown a lot of faith in me and I am grateful for that.”
As he walks off the field in Delhi, applause comes from the UAE supporters as well as locals who remember him from his Jamia days. The badge on his chest may have changed, but the roots of his journey remain the same, shaped by the players he admired growing up in Gaya.
“I idolized MS Dhoni, especially when I knew he was from Bihar. And Virat Kohli. I try to follow his discipline, his preparation, his mindset. Rohit Sharma and Sachin Tendulkar were also my idols.”
Sohaib Khan’s journey from the tennis courts of Gaya to the corporate offices in Dubai and finally to the T20 World Cup spotlight is a testament to the fact that talent finds its way, even if it has to take a long journey across the desert.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
February 18, 2026