Salil Ankola and Sachin Tendulkar (Image Agency) Former Indian cricketer Salil Ankola is back in the limelight after TOI learned that the former fast bowler is currently undergoing treatment for severe depression at a rehabilitation and mental health center near Pune. While the news has sent shock waves across the cricketing fraternity, many younger fans may not be entirely familiar with the journey of the former fast bowler who once shared one of the most famous debut matches in Indian cricket history.Ankola made his international debut for India in Karachi in 1989 in the same Test that introduced two future legends of world cricket – Sachin Tendulkar and Waqar Younis. Facing a strong Pakistan side led by Wasim Akram, the tall Mumbai pacer picked up two wickets in his only Test appearance in India.
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Shikhar Dhawan on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, life after retirement and moreBefore making it to the national team, Ankola burst onto the domestic scene with an eye-catching debut season for Mumbai in 1988-89. He announced himself with a hat-trick and a valuable knock of 43 against Gujarat before following it up with a six-wicket haul against Baroda. His performances quickly moved him into the Indian side.Although his international career was short-lived, Ankola still represented India in 20 ODIs and remained a respected performer in domestic cricket. In 54 first-class matches, he took 181 wickets with best figures of 6 for 47. However, injuries repeatedly interrupted his progress. He later worked with legendary fast bowling coach Frank Tyson to redesign his action and shorten his run-up in an effort to improve control and reduce physical exertion.Ankola returned to the Indian ODI set-up in the mid-1990s and was also part of the 1996 World Cup squad before eventually losing his place again. His cricket career ended prematurely at the age of just 28 after a tumor on his chin forced him to retire.After cricket, Ankola successfully transitioned into the entertainment industry. He has appeared in several TV serials and films including the popular horror show ‘Sshh… Koi Hai’ and has worked alongside personalities like Sanjay Dutt, Renuka Shahane, Sunny Leone, Adnan Sami and Asha Bhosle in various projects.Despite moving into acting and production, Ankola remained closely associated with cricket. He later returned to the game in administrative roles, serving as Mumbai’s chief selector from 2021 to 2023 before becoming the national selector in January 2023. He continued in that role until August 2024.According to his family, Ankola had been struggling emotionally since his mother’s death in October 2024. His wife, Ria Ankola, told TOI that he decided to seek treatment after struggling to cope with the loss and experiencing a decline in both his mental and physical health.
