Sunrisers Hyderabad's Indian cricket player Sakib Hussain (R) celebrates with his captain Indian cricket player Ishan Kishan at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on April 21, 2026. (Photo by Noah Seelam / AFP)
New Delhi: Sakib Hussain's father is a labourer from India's poorest state and his mother sold her jewellery to buy him bowling boots.
Their sacrifices -- and his tears -- paid off after the 21-year-old fast bowler made an instant impact in the Indian Premier League.
He claimed 4-24 for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals on his debut this month.
After three matches, Hussain averages a miserly 14.16 per wicket and has a superb economy rate of 7.08 -- up with the best in the T20 tournament that is a breeding ground for young Indian talent.
Hussain started out playing cricket with a tennis ball in the lanes and patchy fields of the small northern town of Gopalganj in Bihar.
Tales of Hussain's mother having to part with her jewellery to fund her son's cricketing footwear have gone viral in India.
His father owned a small farm but a knee issue forced him to work as a labourer and earn 200-300 rupees ($2-$3) a day to run the house.
"It must have been a truly emotional moment for the family," former India pace bowler Irfan Pathan said after Hussain's debut, where his wickets included prolific opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal in his first over.
"He wanted to join the army but getting an opportunity at this level and stage and performing is a job well done.
"His slower (ball) is dangerous."
Hussain was nicknamed the "Rabada of Gopalganj" locally as his bowling action, raw pace and accuracy began to earn comparisons with South Africa's renowned quick bowler Kagiso Rabada.
Hussain's father knew he also had to support his son's cricket ambitions.
"I was a single earner when this trouble (knee pain) came, so I had to think about providing the basic needs like food for the family," his father was quoted as saying by Indian media.
"At the same time, people told me that my boy bowls very fast, so I told Sakib not to worry about expenses and focus on cricket."
A local coach took Hussain under his wing and soon after he was playing for his state team.
Hussain gained selection to the National Cricket Academy camp in Bengaluru, where he caught the attention of IPL teams while playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy, a national T20 competition.
Hussain was part of the title-winning Kolkata Knight Riders IPL squad in 2024 but did not get a game in a pace attack led by Mitchell Starc.
The 2016 winners Hyderabad snapped him at his base price of $32,000 in the December auction for this season.
"I had tears in my eyes when Hyderabad picked me in the auction," said Hussain.
"This tells you that if you have self-belief then you can achieve anything. My fight is with myself."
His proud mother recalled the struggles of his cricketing journey.
"He came one day and started crying and said, 'Mummy, I need spikes (boots). How will I play?'"
