Former Team India Net Bowler And Assam Ranji Cricketer Prakash Bhagat Forced To Sell Tea And Fast Food To Support His Family

Former left-arm spinner from Assam, Prakash Bhagat, who once shared the National Cricket Academy with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, has now been forced to sell tea and dal puri from a roadside stall to help his financially struggling family.

Bhagat, who has featured for Assam in the Ranji Trophy, is a resident of the Itakhola area in Silchar town, located in Assam’s Cachar district, where he sells tea and fast food with his mother.

Prakash Bhagat was called up at the National Cricket Academy as a net bowler way back in 2002 prior to the Indian team’s tour of New Zealand as the Indian natters wanted to practice against a left-arm spinner in order to tackle Daniel Vettori Down Under.

“In 2009-10, 2010-11, I played for Assam team in Ranji trophy. In 2007, Silchar became the champion of Nuruddin trophy inter-district cricket championship and I was the captain of Silchar district team,” he said.

The former leg-spinner had to leave cricket in 2011 following the death of his father due to cardiac arrest at the age of 65. The pressure of responsibilities to support his family fell on Prakash Bhagat’s shoulders.

Bhagat found juggling with job and cricket practice extremely difficult and thus he decided to leave the game for the sake of his family.

“After the death of my father, all family responsibilities came on my shoulders. At that time, I was under pressure and I had gone a little behind in cricket because I could not give time in my regular practice. It was difficult for me to take care of my family and play cricket at the same time and that was when my downfall started,” he said.

Bhagat further added that he lost his job during the Covid lockdown and since then his family is facing a lot of issues.

“We live in a rented house and are facing a lot of difficulties. Earlier, I was working in a company but I lost my job during COVID-19 lockdown period. I earned Rs 10,000-12,000 and it gave some relief to my family. But now we are facing many problems. My father was running this stall, now I am continuing this,” said Bhagat.