Meet Indian cricketer who cracked UPSC exam, played with Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, now works as...,his name is...
The UPSC Civil Services examination is considered to be one of the toughest examinations in India. Every year, lakhs of aspirants sit for the entrance exam with the aim of becoming officers, but only a select few succeed. We all have heard actors and businessman quitting their work to pursue their dreams of becoming a civil servant. But have you wondered that one former Indian cricketer also cracked the UPSC exam before he made his debut for India?
Amay Khusariya, the only international cricketer who cracked the UPSC examination, made his first-class cricket debut at the age of 17. Hailing from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Amay Khurasiya made his debut for India in International Cricket in 1999 in the Pepsi Cup against Sri Lanka.
Interestingly, he had cracked the UPSC exam even before that. At 17, Amay began his domestic cricket career. Despite clearing one of the toughest competitive exams in India, his passion for cricket led him to choose a career as a professional cricketer over a civil services role.
Born in 1972, Amay Khurasiya was a left-handed batsman. He made his debut for India in 1999 in a match against Sri Lanka in Pune. In that game, Amay played an impressive knock of 57 runs off 45 balls, which included several boundaries and 2 sixes, as per media reports. India won the match by 51 runs.
Amay Khurasiya shared the dressing room with some of the biggest legends in Indian cricket, including Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, and Ajay Jadeja. Though he played only 12 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India, scoring 149 runs, his international career was brief.
His final appearance for India came in 2001 against Sri Lanka. However, in domestic first-class cricket, Khurasiya made a significant mark. He was a consistent performer and accumulated over 7,000 runs in 1999 matches, showcasing his talent and reliability as a top-order batsman.
Before making his debut in international cricket, Amay Khurasiya had successfully cleared the UPSC exam—one of the most prestigious and challenging examinations in India. Despite this remarkable achievement, his deep passion for cricket ultimately influenced his decision. His interest in cricket led him to choose a career as a professional cricketer instead of pursuing a role in civil service.
As per media reports, Amay Khurasiya is currently serving as an Inspector in the Indian Customs & Central Excise Department. Alongside his government role, he remains actively involved in cricket by mentoring young talent, particularly for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and potentially for the international stage.
He has played a significant role in shaping the careers of emerging players like Rajat Patidar and fast bowler Avesh Khan, both of whom have gone on to make their mark in Indian cricket.
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