Prashant Veer: From Struggles to Stardom
Prashant Veer, a left-arm spinning all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh, made history as one of the highest paid uncapped players in IPL when Chennai Super Kings acquired him for INR 14.20 Crore. Although he received this late birthday gift three weeks past his 20th birthday, he had no complaints. This is a drastic change from just five years ago when financial constraints nearly derailed his cricketing dreams.
“In 2020, Prashant was close to quitting cricket,” recalls Rajiv Goel, his childhood coach, in an interview with Cricbuzz.
After the death of his grandfather that year, Prashant’s family lost their sole source of income—his grandfather’s pension from Life Corporation of India—which had contributed significantly to supporting his cricket aspirations. His father’s salary as a para-teacher in government schools barely covered the needs of a family of five in Amethi.
Goel managed local expenses while a few kind-hearted individuals provided Prashant with cricket gear and essentials, allowing him to chase his dream of becoming a professional cricketer.
This wasn’t the first time Prashant considered giving up. Financial strains meant cricket wasn’t just a hobby; it needed to be a financially viable career. This pressure often led him to seek paths that might expedite his rise in the sport.
In 2019, at the urging of his roommate Rakshit Garg, disillusioned with the facilities at Mainpuri Sports Hostel, Prashant moved to Saharanpur. Entrance to these government-run sports hostels in Uttar Pradesh is highly competitive, with only the top 25 among thousands making the cut. Many renowned cricketers, such as Suresh Raina and Mohammed Kaif, hail from these institutions.
Prashant chose to pursue better training under his childhood coach, Rajiv Goel, despite sacrificing the comforts of his previous hostel. Garg, offering his home to Prashant out of kindness, further motivated his friend to make this change. They cycled to training together daily, forming a brother-like bond despite competing aspirations.
