Salil Ankola: Difference between revisions

| birth_place = [[Solapur]], [[Maharashtra]], India

'''Salil Ashok Ankola''' ({{audio|Salil_Ankola.ogg|pronunciation}}; born 1 March 1968) is a former international [[cricket]]er who played one [[Test cricket|Test match]] and 20 [[One Day International]]s (ODIs) from 1989 to 1997 for [[Indian national cricket team|India]]. A right-arm [[Fast medium|fast-medium]] bowler, he played [[first-class cricket]] for [[Maharashtra cricket team|Mumbai]], regularly opening the bowling. Ankola's consistent performances for Mumbai earned him a call for representing India during [[Indian cricket team in Pakistan in 1989–90|their tour of Pakistan in 1989–90]]. After the first Test match at [[National Stadium, Karachi|Karachi]], he was dropped for the subsequent matches in the series owing to injuries. After a brief phase of playing first-class cricket, Ankola was called for the Indian ODI team during 1993, eventually led to being a part of the [[1996 Cricket World Cup]]. His repute as a "poor fielder", resulted in being dropped from the side after subsequent series. At age 28, Ankola retired from international cricket to pursue a career as an actor. Since then he went on to appear in a number of [[Indian soap opera]]s and a few Hindi films. In 2020, he was selected as the chief selector of the [[Mumbai Cricket Association]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-17|title=Former India pacer Salil Ankola named Mumbai chief selector|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/former-india-pacer-salil-ankola-named-mumbai-chief-selector-7107698/|access-date=2020-12-17|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

Ankola made his [[Test cricket|Test]] debut during the first test of the tour at [[Karachi]], alongside [[Sachin Tendulkar]] and [[Waqar Younis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Pakistan v India |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/52/52045.html |publisher=Cricket Archive |access-date=10 March 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203063323/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/52/52045.html |archive-date=3 December 2012 }}</ref> both would go on to become successful cricketers later in their careers.<ref>{{cite web|title=You are seeing the best of Tendulkar: Waqar |url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2004/apr/21waqar.htm |work=[[Rediff.com]] |access-date=28 March 2013 |date=21 April 2004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117113654/http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2004/apr/21waqar.htm |archive-date=17 January 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sachin's has been a very different story: Waqar |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110331/jsp/sports/story_13790283.jsp |access-date=28 March 2013 |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)]] |date=31 March 2011 |author=Lokendra Pratap Sahi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814033259/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110331/jsp/sports/story_13790283.jsp |archive-date=14 August 2013 }}</ref> In a match that was [[Tie (draw)|drawn]], Ankola took two wickets for 128 runs. Injuries sustained thereafter and prevented him from appearing in the remaining Tests of the series.<ref name=profile/>

Soon after the Test series, that was drawn, Ankola was called for the ODI series. He made his ODI debut in the second of the three-match series; the first ODI was abandoned due to bad lights. Ankola picked up two wickets conceding 26 runs. He arrived at [[Batting order (cricket)|number 10]] in the second innings at a stage where India needed 15 runs of one [[Over (cricket)|over]]. Ankola hit a six of the first ball that he faced off [[Imran Khan]] but eventually ended on the losing side.<ref>{{cite web|title=Which Indian hit a six off his first ball in ODIs? |url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/DIDUKNOW/JULY/11072001.html |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=5 January 2013 |date=11 July 2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004043840/http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/IND/DIDUKNOW/JULY/11072001.html |archive-date=4 October 2012 }}</ref> In the next match, he bowled just 2.3 overs (15 balls) before the match was called off due to crowd disruption. Despite being selected in the Test squads on domestic series and overseas tours, he never got an opportunity to play for the team. Being dropped from the team without getting a game was known in cricket circles as being "Ankolad".<ref name=desh>{{cite news|last=Deshpande|first=Swati|title=Ankola wants out, wife says no|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-01-29/mumbai/28147157_1_indian-cricket-team-legal-notice-mrinalini-deshmukh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331055706/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-01-29/mumbai/28147157_1_indian-cricket-team-legal-notice-mrinalini-deshmukh|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 March 2013|access-date=5 January 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=29 January 2010}}</ref> However, Ankola continued to play ODI cricket. In the early 1990s, he along with other bowlers such as [[Abey Kuruvilla]], [[Paras Mhambrey]], [[Nilesh Kulkarni]] and [[Sairaj Bahutule]] was trained under [[Frank Tyson]]. Ankola mainly worked on altering his style rather than pace.<ref>{{cite news|last=Viswanath |first=G. |title=Fast bowlers need guidance from expert |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/12/stories/2007101262552500.htm |access-date=14 March 2013 |date=12 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024230036/http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/12/stories/2007101262552500.htm |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=24 October 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Murzello|first=Clayton|title=Contractor can rebuild the edifice|url=http://www.mid-day.com/columnists/2012/jul/260712-opinion-Contractor-can-rebuild-the-edifice.htm|work=[[Mid-Day]]|access-date=14 March 2013|date=26 July 2012}}</ref>  

During this period, Ankola married Parineeta; the couple has two children—a daughter and a son.<ref name=desh/>  

After a period of three years, Ankola was selected for the Charms Cup against [[England cricket team|England]] and [[Zimbabwe cricket team|Zimbabwe]] at home.<ref>{{cite web|title=ODI Matches Played by Salil Ankola |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1931/ODI_Matches.html |publisher=Cricket Archive |access-date=16 March 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301071750/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1931/ODI_Matches.html |archive-date=1 March 2014 }}</ref> In a match against [[South Africa cricket team|South Africa]] during the [[Hero Cup]] (1993), he captured three wickets for 33 runs, which remained his career-best bowling figures in ODIs.<ref name=inns>{{cite web|title=Statistics / Statsguru / SA Ankola / One-Day Internationals / Innings by innings list |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/26257.html?class=2;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=5 January 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329031616/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/26257.html?class=2%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Dbowling%3Bview%3Dinnings |archive-date=29 March 2014 }}</ref>

In 1996, Ankola was selected in the Indian team for the [[1996 Cricket World Cup|World Cup]]. In the tournament he played just one match against [[Sri Lanka cricket team|Sri Lanka]]. In a match that India lost, he conceded 28 runs off five overs without claiming any wicket.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wills World Cup – 24th match, Group A: India v Sri Lanka |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65179.html |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=5 January 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113193002/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65179.html |archive-date=13 November 2012 }}</ref> Shortly after the World Cup, the selectors with immediate effect dropped Ankola along with [[Vinod Kambli]] and all-rounder [[Manoj Prabhakar]]—all were a part of the squad earlier—for the [[1996 Singer Cup|Singer cup]] and [[1996 Pepsi Sharjah Cup|Pepsi Sharjah Cup]].<ref name=headlines>{{cite web|title=The Headlines (for Mar 96) |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/72557.html |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=16 March 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314183828/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/72557.html |archive-date=14 March 2014 }}</ref> Ankola was replaced by medium-fast bowler [[Prashant Vaidya]].<ref name=headlines/> However, Ankola was subsequently selected for the [[Indian cricket team in South Africa in 1996–97|Indian team that toured South Africa in 1996—97]]. Despite being a part of the squad, he was never given a chance to represent the playing XI in any of the Test matches. Following the Test series, he was picked up for the Standard Bank International ODI tournament;<ref>{{cite web|last=Panicker |first=Prem |title=Jadeja, Joshi, Robin, Ankola return to the Indian side |url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1996-97/IND_IN_RSA/ARTICLES/IND_ODI_SIDE_13JAN1997.html |work=Rediff.com |access-date=10 March 2013 |date=13 January 1997 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302154441/http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1996-97/IND_IN_RSA/ARTICLES/IND_ODI_SIDE_13JAN1997.html |archive-date=2 March 2014 }}</ref> he played five games in the tournament against South Africa and Zimbabwe.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statistics / Statsguru / SA Ankola / One-Day Internationals / 1996—97 |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/26257.html?class=2;home_or_away=1;home_or_away=2;home_or_away=3;result=1;result=2;result=3;result=5;season=1996%2F97;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=16 March 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329031602/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/26257.html?class=2%3Bhome_or_away%3D1%3Bhome_or_away%3D2%3Bhome_or_away%3D3%3Bresult%3D1%3Bresult%3D2%3Bresult%3D3%3Bresult%3D5%3Bseason%3D1996%2F97%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Dbowling%3Bview%3Dinnings |archive-date=29 March 2014 }}</ref> In the finals against South Africa that India lost, Ankola conceded 50 runs in seven overs in what became his last match;<ref name=inns/> the spell included a catch being taken off a [[no-ball]] and a dropped chance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Standard Bank International One-Day Series – Final |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66078.html |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=16 March 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102052542/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66078.html |archive-date=2 November 2013 |df= }}</ref> The tour remained his last in international cricket as he was never selected for the team again. Following that, Ankola declared his retirement from international cricket the same year.<ref name=profile/>

In 2020, Salil Ankola was selected as the chief selector of the [[Mumbai Cricket Association]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-17|title=Former India pacer Salil Ankola named Mumbai chief selector|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/former-india-pacer-salil-ankola-named-mumbai-chief-selector-7107698/|access-date=2020-12-17|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

After retiring from cricket, Ankola shifted his focus towards entering films. He made his cinematic debut through the 2000 [[Hindi cinema|Hindi film]] ''[[Kurukshetra (2000 film)|Kurukshetra]]'',<ref name=itoday>{{cite web|title=Big screen boy – Ex-cricketer Salil Ankola set to move from small-screen to movies |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ex-cricketer-salil-ankola-set-to-move-from-small-screen-to-movies/1/243766.html |publisher=Indiatoday.in |access-date=14 March 2013 |author=Anna M.M. Vetticad |author-link=Anna M.M. Vetticad |date=3 April 2000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224112033/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ex-cricketer-salil-ankola-set-to-move-from-small-screen-to-movies/1/243766.html |archive-date=24 December 2013 }}</ref> where he played the role of a cop accompanying his senior officer played by [[Sanjay Dutt]].<ref name=itoday/> He followed that with ''[[Pitaah]]'' (2002),<ref>{{cite news|title=Playing for Bollywood |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/photos-news/Photos-Entertainment/playingforbollywood/Article4-460080.aspx |access-date=14 March 2013 |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=1 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227010341/http://www.hindustantimes.com/photos-news/Photos-Entertainment/playingforbollywood/Article4-460080.aspx |archive-date=27 December 2013 }}</ref> and his last major release ''[[Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne]]'' (2003) featured him alongside [[Esha Deol]] and [[Zayed Khan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Star son Zayed Khan debuts in Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/jan/23intro.htm |work=Rediff.com |access-date=14 March 2013 |author=Sukanya Verma |author2=Ronjita Kulkarni |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224110035/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/jan/23intro.htm |archive-date=24 December 2013 }}</ref> The following year he acted in ''Silence Please...The Dressing Room'', where he played the character of a cricket captain.<ref name=bhung>{{cite web|last=Adarsh |first=Taran |title=Silence Please – The Dressing Room |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/508144 |publisher=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |access-date=16 March 2013 |date=9 April 2004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331030809/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/508144 |archive-date=31 March 2013 }}</ref> The film did not fare well at the box-office, nonetheless Ankola's performance was highly appreciated.<ref name=bhung/> He also participated in the [[Bigg Boss (Hindi season 1)|first season]] of ''[[Bigg Boss (Hindi TV series)|Bigg Boss]]'', Indian version of the [[Reality television|reality show]] ''[[Big Brother (TV series)|Big Brother]]'' in 2006. Prior to that, he acted in the [[Indian soap opera]] titled ''Karam Apna Apna'', where he signed a contract with [[Balaji Telefilms]] that "[Ankola] would not act in any television show on any channel apart from those produced by Balaji Films".<ref>{{cite web|last=Janwalkar|first=Mayura|title=Reality bites Salil Ankola|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_reality-bites-salil-ankola_1062893|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|access-date=14 March 2013|date=8 November 2006}}</ref> Since he appeared in ''Bigg Boss'' before the contract would expire—one year from June 2006—the [[Bombay High Court]] ordered him not to act in any TV shows on other channels that are considered rivals for [[Sony Television]].<ref>{{cite web|title='Bigg Boss' shows Ankola the door|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_bigg-boss-shows-ankola-the-door_1063302|work=Daily News and Analysis|access-date=14 March 2013|date=10 November 2006}}</ref> ''[[Ssshhhh...Koi Hai]]'' and ''[[Kora Kagaz]]'' are some of the other soap operas that he has acted.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cricketers on a different wicket |url=http://www.mid-day.com/photos/sports/cricketers-on-a-different-wicket/salil-ankola/ |publisher=[[Mid-Day]] |access-date=14 March 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224110152/http://www.mid-day.com/photos/sports/cricketers-on-a-different-wicket/salil-ankola/ |archive-date=24 December 2013 }}</ref>

Ankola went through a bad patch in the period 2008-12. Neither his cricket career nor his acting career had brought in enough money to support his growing family expenses. Financial issues and frustration led to a combination of alcoholism and breakdown of marital relations. The BCCI (India's apex cricket board) arranged a benefit match for him in 2010, to boost his finances, but it was too little. His first marriage of 19 years (1992-2011) ended in divorce in 2011, after which he slowly recovered enough to resume acting on television.

*2020–present [[Devi Adi Parashakti]] as [[Surya]] Dev (Replacement by Sanjay Sharma)

Born in 1968 into a south Indian [[Konkani language|Konkani]]-speaking family which hails from the town of [[Ankola]] in [[Uttara Kannada]] district of [[Karnataka]]. Ankola was born into a Karnataka konkani family in 1968.<ref>{{cite web |title=The High Priests of Indian Cricket |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/the-high-priests-of-indian-cricket/218914 |publisher=Outlookindia.com |access-date=14 March 2013 |date=10 February 2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516020614/http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/the-high-priests-of-indian-cricket/218914 |archive-date=16 May 2016}}</ref>

In 2008, it was reported that Ankola has been suffering from [[Mood disorder|depression]] and was enrolled in a rehabilitation centre in [[Pune]].<ref name=mirror1>{{cite news|last=Lalwani |first=Vickey |title=Salil Ankola admitted to rehabilitation centre |url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?contentid=2008110820081108025605842af3243ca&page=article&sectid=30&sectxslt=section |access-date=15 March 2013 |newspaper=[[Mumbai Mirror]] |date=8 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002164825/http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=30&contentid=2008110820081108025605842af3243ca&sectxslt=section |archive-date=2 October 2012 }}</ref> The reason behind the illness was believed to be his severe addiction to alcohol.<ref name=mirror1/> As a result of this his wife decided to settle with her parent in Pune with their children, leaving Ankola isolated.<ref name=mirror1/>