From two meals a day to IPL stardom: Abhishek Porel’s unbelievable journey

If you think a cricketer’s life is all about glory, applause, and dream selections, think again. Behind every run scored under stadium lights is a story of grit in darkness, sacrifices that often go unseen. Abhishek Porel, the young wicketkeeper-batter from Bengal, is a living example of how dreams are often built on struggles, loss, and relentless resilience.

In a heartfelt conversation with podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, Porel opened up about the harsh realities of his early life, his family’s financial hardships, and the emotional toll of losing loved ones—all while holding on to a singular dream: playing cricket.

“I Had No Second Option”

“I didn’t expect to reach where I am now,” Porel confessed. “I played cricket because it was my passion. I had no Plan B—and even today, I don’t.” Growing up in a financially challenged household, his family relied on his grandfather’s modest pension. “My father had no job. It was from my grandfather’s pension that we survived.”

Buying cricket kits was a luxury. “My mother would wake me early and take me through Chandannagar to Kolkata—a 2.5-hour journey each way. Some days we depended on strangers for a lift to the station.”

Grief, Loss, and Starvation

The COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 was a nightmare. “I lost both my grandparents. Their pension was what helped me play under-16 matches. When they died, the money stopped. Our house was gone. I couldn’t pay rent—₹10,000 a month. I survived on two meals a day,” he said with pain in his voice.

Rejection and a Ray of Hope

Porel turned to his cricketing friends for financial help. “I was rejected by everyone. My parents broke down in tears. I asked my coach for help, and he took me to Laxmi Ratan Shukla, then the Sports Minister. He gave ₹20,000. That money kept us going for two months.”

“I even thought about running away. But my parents’ faces stopped me. I couldn’t let them down.”

Now Living the Dream

Today, Porel plays for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025. He’s opened the innings, providing crucial starts and scoring 301 runs in 13 matches.

When asked how he feels now, he smiled and said, “I’m happy. I’m stable. My parents are proud—and that’s what matters the most.”