Accident broke his legs, but resilient young Kerala cricketer aims to return to pitch

A horrific bike accident left 21-year-old Sai Venkat of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala bedridden for over five months. Everybody thought that this aspiring cricketer’s life had come to a standstill. However, Sai Venkat wasn’t ready to give up. Instead of succumbing to despair, he chose to channel his inner strength and determination.

For Sai Venkat, the road to recovery was long and arduous, involving surgeries, rehabilitation, and countless hours of physiotherapy. But he battled the pain to chase his dream of becoming a cricketer. His love for cricket served as a driving force, motivating him to reclaim the life that was temporarily taken away from him. He knew that he should get back on his feet soon to make it big in the world because he wanted to take care of his mother and sister. Having lost his father at the age of two, it’s his mother who has been looking after him and his sister. “My mother and sister are my strength and support. I owe my life to them. I want to return to cricket and make my mother proud,” Sai Venkat told “Open Digest.”

Sai Venkat took to cricket after his fast bowling skills earned him a spot in teams right from his school days. It was a morning in December 2021 when Sai’s life took an unexpected turn. Riding his bike to college, he met with an accident resulting in severe injuries to his legs. The accident not only left him physically battered but also shattered his dreams of making it big in the cricketing world. He was hospitalised for over five months, and upon his return home, he had to continue with several treatment sessions to get back on his feet.

Sai Venkat has played inter-university matches and has been a net bowler for India A, South Africa A and various Ranji Trophy teams.

With each passing day, his resilience became more apparent. He tirelessly worked on rebuilding his strength and regaining his form. “I am rebuilding my strength to return to cricket. I still have a problem with my right toe, but I am working on it,” he said.

He is a beacon, teaching us that setbacks are not the end but an opportunity for a powerful comeback.