What Do Cricketers Do When Not Playing?

You’ve only seen them batting, bowling, fielding and more recently, showcasing some Gangnam style dance moves during the IPL 2013 matches. Chris Gayle is a pro at it! Of course, cricket is their first love, but what is it that keeps these cricketers busy when they are not playing the gentleman’s game? 

Here’s bringing to you the other side of 5 of my favourite cricket devtas who are extremely passionate, both on and off the field.

Dhoni is a freak (yes, I mean literally). He is as fast in smashing fours and sixes as he is in adding superbikes and SUVs to his already large collection. My heart skips a beat every single time I see his picture with his latest X132 Hellcat bike. Harley Davidson Fat Boy, Enfield Machismo, Yamaha RX, Ducati 1098, Hummer H2 and Mitsubishi Outlander are a few of his prized possessions. In fact, he also owns a team by the name of ‘Mahi Racing’ that competes in the World Supersport Championship. May be, Dhoni should plan a road trip to Leh on one of his super bikes.

If you were born in the 90s or earlier, you probably remember struggling to convince your parents for that brand new bicycle, so you could proudly pedal your way to school. I'm sure, today's kids are having a tough time getting their hands on an iPhone 5! However, for some, bicycles are still a privilege. As a social activist, Sangakkara has initiated a campaign – Bikes for Life – where funds are raised to provide bicycles for kids in rural areas who are in dire need of transportation to attend school. Indeed, a great gesture. Cricket or no cricket, leaders will remain leaders!

On the pitch, his weapon is the cricket ball. Off the pitch, it’s the mighty pen that rules or should I say the keyboard! Dale likes to write; at least that’s what his blog suggests. From tips on being a world class bowler to counting his carbon footprint (he’s quite eco-friendly) and writing about the pitches of Australia, Dale makes excellent use of social media to network and share his thoughts and opinions. Dale fan, are you? Perhaps, you can catch him on Twitter or Facebook.

He smacks the cricket ball straight for a sixer without a fuss but has a soft spot for animals. Pathan has been going on excursions to wildlife sanctuaries with his uncle from a young age. During his spare time, he’s glued to the television watching wildlife programmes. In fact, his passion goes out to the extent of rescuing abused animals, bringing them home and nursing them.  But did you know, he loves night-outs in dense jungles with just a tent and a torch. That’s the not-so-well-known side of Pathan. Who knew there was so much passion beneath that neutral expression! After all, looks can be deceptive.

He plays, but not just cricket! One of the fastest bowlers in the world, Brett Lee is a star in real life too. A pro at acoustic and bass guitars, Brett also plays the piano and the mouth organ. Not just that. He’s a part of the band called ‘Six and Out’. His most prized possession is the Maton guitar. Wondering why? Well, it has autographs of some of the most legendary musicians. Interestingly, he featured alongside Asha Bhosle in a duet titled ‘You’re the one for me’. Sounds like a complete rock-star!

Well, this is where the cricketers’ dil takes them. Where does your dil take you?

Photo Credit: Dilpreet Singh