Cricket does not always reward talent immediately. Sometimes it lets you walk away. Sometimes it makes you wait. And sometimes, much later, it gives you another chance if you are brave enough to take it.
Vikrant Salikeety’s journey is not about a smooth rise or an early breakthrough. It is about stopping, doubting yourself, and then choosing to return. At 33 years old, with over 2,000 matches played, Vikrant is the Batter of the Year (Leather) at the CricHeroes Awards 2025. But this story truly begins with what he left behind.
The chance that slipped
Vikrant was selected for the U-25 Hyderabad state team. It was his final age group opportunity. He had the skill, but he did not get enough chances to prove himself. Looking back, he does not blame selectors or circumstances.
“I didn’t take the right decisions at the right time,” he says honestly.
He also admits something many players struggle to say. He did not have enough guidance when he was younger. He had chances, but he did not use them well. Slowly, cricket started moving away from him. By the time he was 29, Vikrant stepped away from the game.
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Not because the passion was gone.
But because life demanded stability.
Life without the game
When Vikrant got married, he did not have a job. To support his family, he started running a medical shop. For almost two years, that shop was his world.
But cricket never really left him.
He would watch other players play and feel the weight of his own choices. Every weekend reminded him of what he had walked away from.
“I kept asking myself why I left cricket,” he admits.
The regret stayed quiet but constant.
The decision to return
A few players from Hyderabad cricket reached out to him. They encouraged him to come back. Not with promises or guarantees. Just belief.
That was the turning point.
Vikrant made a clear decision. He would return to cricket, but on his own terms.
He chose to play only when he got match fees.
“I ran my house only on match fees,” he says. “Nothing else.”
It was risky. But this time, he chose courage over comfort.
From June 2022 to December 2025
What followed was something very few players manage.
Between June 2022 and December 2025, Vikrant played nearly 2,000 matches.
At an age when many players slow down, he did the opposite. Grounds like Moinabad and NK Palli became familiar again. He balanced life in Sun City with endless matches across Hyderabad.
Teams wanted him. Not just because he scored runs, but because he delivered when it mattered.
One innings stands out. A semifinal where 108 runs were needed in 7 overs. The chase was completed in 5.3 overs. One over went for 35, another for 25.
It was not blind hitting.
It was control under pressure.
A team player at heart
Despite everything he has achieved, Vikrant is clear about one thing.
“I don’t want to do it individually,” he says. “I want to do it with the team.”
Teammates say the same.
One of them puts it simply.
“Not becoming a professional cricketer was a setback. But he never let it affect his love for the game.”
Another adds,
“You cannot talk about Hyderabad cricket without mentioning Vikrant Salikeety.”
Despite scoring over 100 centuries and 400 fifties, Vikrant never talks about personal milestones first. His favourite moments are trophies lifted together. Team huddles. Shared celebrations.
Winning as a group matters more to him than individual records.
Family, support, and gratitude
Vikrant’s family stood by him through uncertainty and risk. Through long days and unpredictable income.
One moment means a lot to him. Sitting at home with his wife. Handing her a trophy. Watching her place it in the cabinet. Sharing a quiet smile.
That moment carries more meaning than applause.
He is also deeply grateful to CricHeroes.
“If not for CricHeroes, Hyderabad cricket would not be what it is today,” he says. “Players get recognition. They get happiness. They get a platform.”
He has seen corporate cricket evolve. What was once casual has now become fiercely competitive. Today, corporate tournaments are almost at the level of professional state competitions.
The game grew. And Vikrant grew with it.
The numbers that follow the journey
Overall career
- 2,162 matches
- 70,206 runs
- 1,759 wickets
- 123 centuries
- 421 fifties
2025 season
- 477 innings
- 18,991 runs
- Strike rate of 191
Why batter of the year
Vikrant Salikeety is the Batter of the year (leather) not because his career was perfect.
He is here because he walked away, questioned himself, and still chose to return.
He plays with clarity now. Without fear. Without regret.
“Jab tak khel sakta hoon, cricket khelunga,” he says.
And when life gives him a chance, his belief is simple.
“When life offers you a chance, take the risk. Let destiny do its magic.”
This award is not just about runs.
It is about choosing the long way back.
I am Manan Joshi , SEO All-Rounder at CricHeroes.
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