IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad Fast Bowler Sakib Hussain Reflects on His Season

Sakib Hussain’s rise from a modest cricketing background in Gopalganj, Bihar, to the Indian Premier League has been shaped by hardship, family sacrifice, and steady backing from mentors. The Sunrisers Hyderabad fast bowler still feels a little embarrassed talking about the six pairs of high-end cricket shoes he used this season, especially because there was a time when he did not even own a proper pair. For years, he trained and played on the tennis-ball circuit, earning small match fees while dreaming of a future in cricket and, earlier, the Indian Army. His family’s situation changed when his father developed knee problems and could no longer work fully on the farm, leaving Sakib and his brother to help support the household while continuing their cricket.

Footwear was once a serious problem for him. Cheap shoes bought from roadside shops wore out quickly, causing slips, sprains, and repeated frustration. His mother eventually sold jewellery given to her at marriage to buy him better shoes, a gesture Sakib still sees as the true beginning of his journey. He says he never expected to play top-level cricket, but criticism from people around him only strengthened his resolve to prove himself through performance rather than words.

Support from local cricket administrators and coach Robin Singh helped him move forward, and his performances in Bihar cricket and age-group tournaments eventually opened the door to the IPL. Kolkata Knight Riders picked him in 2024, though he did not play, and Sunrisers Hyderabad later signed him as part of a strategy to develop uncapped fast bowlers. At SRH, bowling coach Varun Aaron has played a major role in refining Sakib’s game, focusing first on accuracy, length, and top-of-off-stump consistency rather than immediate technical changes. Sakib describes Aaron as more than a coach, calling him like an older brother.

His debut IPL season has featured memorable moments, including four wickets against Rajasthan Royals and key dismissals of Chennai Super Kings batter Shivam Dube in two separate matches. One of his biggest strengths is variation, especially his slower balls and cutters. Nearly half of his deliveries in the league phase were slower balls, a skill he developed after the 2024 season with advice from his childhood friend Sachin Kumar. He practised the slower ball with tennis balls before transferring it to the cricket ball, while Aaron helped him understand when and where to bowl it.

One of Sakib’s proudest wickets came against Virat Kohli, when he used six straight slower deliveries and trapped the veteran batter with deception and control. Pat Cummins, Sunrisers’ captain, also helped guide his plans on the field, and Sakib says communication in the team has not been a problem. Off the field, he repeatedly watches a video of his parents reacting emotionally to his IPL selection, as a reminder of where he came from.

Sakib says his only real goals are to keep his parents secure, maintain his self-respect, and help Sunrisers Hyderabad win the IPL.