5 highly educated Indian cricketers of the recent past

Cricket is a very lucrative career choice, but playing the game professionally has a lot of pros and cons, with the fear of not making it big being one of the biggest concerns that bug most budding cricketers. Hence, those pursuing the game, or any other sport for that matter, are advised to secure their career by being academically qualified enough to have back-up options if things don’t pan out as expected.

Earlier, education was given utmost priority, and cricketers had enough time to acquire degrees, without the pressures of a packed international schedule. However, there have been Indian cricketers in the recent past, who have completed their education to a good extent. Here are five of them:

#1 Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin graduated in Information Technology

Team India’s frontline spinner and an able batsman, Ashwin came into the limelight after excelling for the Chennai Super Kings under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He made his ODI and T20 debut in 2010, and Test debut a year later.

Ashwin did his schooling from Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan and St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School. He went on to pursue engineering, graduating in Information Technology from the SSN College of Engineering, Chennai. Ashwin also worked for Cognizant Technology Solutions for a while.

#2 Javagal Srinath

Javagal Srinath holds an engineering degree in Instrumentation Technology

One of the fastest Indian bowlers of all time, Srinath was considered to be a natural successor to the Kapil Dev brand of pace bowling. Despite retiring from international cricket in 2003, he still remains the only Indian pacer to take more than 300 ODI wickets. Post-retirement, he became an ICC Match referee, making his debut as a match official in 2006.

He did his engineering in Instrumentation Technology from the Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, now known as JSS Science and Technology University, Mysuru.

#3 Anil Kumble

Kumble is a mechanical engineer from RVCE

Former Indian coach Anil Kumble gained legendary status owing to his exploits with the ball for India, ending his international career as the highest wicket-taker for the country in both Tests and ODIs. Known for his aggressive and combative attitude, Kumble played for and subsequently mentored Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

He did his pre-university college education from National College Basavanagudi. He completed his engineering in the stream of Mechanical from Rashtreeya Vidyalaya College of Engineering (RVCE), a private college in Bangalore.

#4 Rahul Dravid

Dravid has a commerce degree from the St. Joseph’s College of Commerce

Considered one of the best No 3 batsmen of all time, Dravid hails from an academic-oriented background, with his mother being a professor of Architecture at the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, also called the Government Engineering College.

He completed his schooling from the prestigious St. Joseph's Boys High School and went on to graduate from the St. Joseph's College of Commerce with a degree in commerce. Dravid was studying MBA in the St Joseph’s College of Business Administration when he was called up to represent the country in cricket.

#5 Murali Vijay

Vijay left his home after failing 12th, but resumed his studies later on.

The Indian opener was another player who benefitted from a successful stint in the IPL, and made his debut for the national side in 2008. He developed his game for the longer format, and would go on to become an established opener in the current Indian setup.

Vijay did not have a smooth start, though. He left his home after failing in class XII to figure out life and to understand himself better. Vijay returned to studies, and completed high school, and then joined the Vivekananda College in Mylapore, Chennai. According to cricket.com.au, he now holds a degree in economics and a masters in philosophy.