article by Suvankar Roy
The final exams were only days away. The desk should have been covered in open textbooks, and his mind filled with complex formulas and diagrams. But for a 21-year-old boy in Faridabad, only one question echoed:
“Will I spend my life living someone else’s dream, or will I fight for my own?” Standing before his father, his voice trembling but firm, he said:
“I can’t do engineering anymore. I want to be a cricketer. I’m going to Kolkata.” The room fell into a heavy, pin-drop silence. In that single sentence, the blueprint of a secure future had been torn apart. With that one decision, the greatest battle of Shahbaz Ahmed’s life began.
This isn’t a movie script. This is a real-life struggle—the story of an ordinary boy’s extraordinary ascent.
From the Dust of Mewat to the Global Stage
Born on December 12, 1994, in the Mewat district of Haryana, Shahbaz Ahmed grew up in a middle-class household. His father was a clerk in the SDM office, and his mother a homemaker. Their dreams were simple and clear, their son would become an engineer and secure a respectable job.
Shahbaz initially followed that path. With 80% in 10th grade and 88% in 12th, everything seemed on track. But while his body was in the classroom, his eyes were always on the field. The pull of the bat and ball was stronger than any lecture. Whether it was tennis-ball cricket, alley matches, or local tournaments, Shahbaz shone wherever he played.
However, talent alone doesn’t guarantee an opening. As he began skipping classes to play, warning letters arrived from his college. Eventually, with his back against the wall, he made the ultimate gamble: he walked away from it all for cricket.
“Don’t Come Back Without Proving Yourself”
When the doors to the Haryana U-19 team remained shut, most would have surrendered. But not Shahbaz. On the advice of cricketer Pramod Chandila, he decided to move to Kolkata in 2015. With his final-year exams abandoned and a single bag in hand, he boarded a train to an unknown city.
His father’s parting words were harsh but became his fuel:
“Go, but do not return until you have proven yourself.” Kolkata was brutal at first. He lived in a cramped room shared with twelve other aspiring cricketers. No privacy, no space to sleep, and no guarantees. Joining the Tapan Memorial Cricket Club, he faced the “outsider” tag, fewer opportunities, and skepticism from others.
But when the bat speaks, identity no longer matters. In his first seven matches, he smashed six centuries. One after another, the runs piled up. The same people who once ignored him began to ask: “Who is this kid?”
Shahbaz’s explosive batting caught the eye of veteran Manoj Tiwary. Despite objections and doubts from selectors, Tiwary stood by him. He even told Sourav Ganguly:
“This boy will win matches single-handedly.” The breakthrough came quickly. He made his First-Class debut in 2018. The 2019–20 season was his trial by fire, where he racked up 509 runs and 35 wickets, leading Bengal to the Ranji Trophy final after a 27-year drought.
That performance blew the doors open to the IPL. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) signed him for 20 Lakhs. The boy who was once an uncertain dreamer was now the talk of the town.
In the 2022 Mega Auction, his price skyrocketed to 2.2 Crore INR. But for Shahbaz, the recognition was worth more than the money. He became the “clutch player”—the man for high-pressure situations. His unbeaten 108-run partnership with Abishek Porel to chase down 349 remains a legend in Bengal cricket.
Then came the crowning glory: October 9, 2022. The Blue Jersey. Shahbaz made his international debut for India against South Africa. The student who once received warning letters from his college was now representing his nation on the world stage.
In a poetic turn of events, Shahbaz completed his pending exams during the 2020 lockdown. In 2022, the same college that once warned him he had “no future” invited him back—this time to honor him with his degree.
Shahbaz Ahmed’s story is more than just about cricket. It is a story of raw courage. It is about the audacity to believe in oneself when no one else does and the bravery to tell your family the truth about your dreams.
From the dusty fields of Mewat to the blinding lights of international stadiums—not everyone can walk this path. But some do. And they become history.
Shahbaz Ahmed—not just a cricketer, but a living inspiration.