Salil Ankola

Salil Ashok Ankola, a versatile Indian personality who transitioned from the cricket pitch to the silver screen, was born on March 1, 1968, in Solapur, Maharashtra. Raised in a Konkani-speaking family that originally hailed from the coastal town of Ankola in Karnataka, he spent much of his youth in Pune. His educational years were deeply intertwined with his rising athletic talent, as he emerged as a formidable right-arm fast bowler during his late teens. By the age of 20, he made a spectacular first-class debut for Maharashtra in the 1988–89 Ranji Trophy season, where he famously claimed a hat-trick and scored 43 runs against Gujarat, immediately establishing himself as one of the most promising young cricketers in India.

His rapid ascent in the domestic circuit led to his international breakthrough in 1989, when he was selected for India’s historic tour of Pakistan. On November 15, 1989, Ankola made his Test debut in Karachi—the same match that marked the beginning of Sachin Tendulkar's legendary career. While his international career showed immense potential, it was frequently hampered by chronic injuries, specifically a bone tumor in his left shin. Despite these setbacks, he represented India in 20 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and was a member of the Indian squad during the 1996 Cricket World Cup. However, the recurring physical strain eventually forced him to retire from professional cricket in 1997 at the young age of 28, a transition that paved the way for his second career in the entertainment industry.

Ankola’s move to acting was highly successful, making him one of the few Indian athletes to establish a stable professional presence on television. He made his acting debut in 1998 with the Zee TV show Chahat Aur Nafrat and quickly gained nationwide recognition for his role in the popular drama Kora Kagaz. He became a household name through lead and pivotal roles in iconic series such as the supernatural thriller Ssshhhh...Koi Hai—where he played the beloved character Vikraal—along with Kehta Hai Dil, CID, and Karam Apnaa Apnaa. His cinematic journey began in 2000 with the film Kurukshetra, starring alongside Sanjay Dutt, followed by appearances in Pitaah (2002) and Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne (2003), where he demonstrated his range by portraying a primary antagonist.

Beyond scripted roles, Ankola became a familiar face in the reality television space, appearing as a contestant in the inaugural season of Bigg Boss in 2006. He also participated in other competitive formats such as Fear Factor India, Power Couple, and notably won the culinary reality show Kitchen Kallakar in 2022. Despite facing a difficult period in the late 2000s due to personal hardships and health struggles, he made a powerful professional comeback. He played the role of Surya Dev in the high-budget mythological series Karmaphal Daata Shani from 2016 to 2018, which reaffirmed his status as a prominent actor in the industry.

In recent years, Salil Ankola has successfully integrated his two worlds by returning to cricket in an administrative capacity. He served as the Chairman of the Senior Selection Committee for the Mumbai Cricket Association in 2020 and was later appointed as a national selector for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from early 2023 to late 2024. Currently, he maintains an active presence in the digital space and on social media, where he often shares insights from his multifaceted journey. As of 2025 and 2026, he continues to be involved in the sport as a Marathi commentator for the Indian Premier League (IPL), using his unique perspective as both an athlete and an actor to engage a new generation of fans.