Who is Anshuman Rath? The Hong Kong cricket star who almost gave up cricket for a corporate career

When Anshuman Rath returned to Hong Kong in early 2023, he was mentally, physically, and emotionally “cooked.” The former captain, now 25, had endured a difficult two-year stint with Odisha in India’s domestic circuit, leaving him disillusioned and ready to quit cricket.

According to ESPNcricinfo "I'm someone who enjoys cricket because of the camaraderie, the team environment. In Odisha, I just wasn't feeling it," Rath says. “I was questioning myself, doubting every decision I'd made.”

Rath recalls being made fun of for eating rice and dal with a spoon, playing through injury, and even injuring himself further to avoid matches. “It was that bad,” he says. During this time, food became a coping mechanism, and he gained 20 kilos.


Rath’s journey had already been turbulent. After a failed attempt to secure a Middlesex contract due to visa issues and an isolating stint in New Zealand, he moved to India, hoping to revive his career. Though Vidarbha welcomed him, BCCI registration problems and politics blocked his opportunities. Odisha became his next stop, but he “was just going through the motions.”

By January 2023, Rath had decided to quit professional cricket. “I told my dad I was never touching a bat again,” he says. He considered shifting to the corporate world, but a lifeline came from Cricket Hong Kong’s High Performance Manager, Mark Farmer, who offered him a contract despite his struggles.

“It was the first time I'd felt something like that in five or six years. I almost teared up,” Rath admits.

Since returning to Hong Kong, Rath has regained his fitness, confidence, and joy for the game. “I wake up in Hong Kong now, have meals with my family, and enjoy the vibe of the city. I laugh more on the field. I banter with teammates. I enjoy touring again.” ESPNcricinfo said.

For Rath, once a teenage captain who nearly pulled off a historic win over India in 2018, this is a true second chance. “This isn't going to last forever. So every time I walk on the field now, I'm smiling, I'm laughing. And I think that shows in my cricket too.”