She was the reason for not committing suicide in jail… ‘stopped’ on bail, there was a danger of paralysis, girlfriend’s love saved the cricketer’s life

New Delhi. The life of Indian cricketer S Sreesanth has been no less than a film script. As much as his aggression and speed on the field of play were discussed, his controversies off the field also made equal headlines. The IPL spot-fixing controversy of 2013 was the darkest phase of Sreesanth’s life, which completely ruined his cheerful career. But, during this very difficult time, his then girlfriend and present wife Bhuvaneshwari Kumari became such a strong shield for him, which saved him from breaking. In a recent interview, Sreesanth has made many emotional revelations about this most painful phase of his life and the unwavering support of his wife Bhuvaneshwari.

During the 2013 IPL, Delhi Police arrested Sreesanth along with his fellow players Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan on spot-fixing charges. After this incident, BCCI banned him for life and his IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals also suspended his contract and lodged a police complaint. For Sreesanth, this was such a shock that it shook him completely from within. While behind bars, he started having thoughts of suicide. Recalling this dreadful period, Sreesanth told.

According to Sreesanth, ‘When I was in jail, the biggest reason for me not committing suicide was my wife Bhuvaneshwari. I had promised her in 2010 that if India won the 2011 ODI World Cup, I would marry her. It was Bhuvaneshwari’s love and the encouragement given by her, which gave Sreesanth the strength to fight the battle of life even in that dark room of the jail.

In the interview given to Lallantop, Sreesanth also mentioned the five special stages of his love story, which finally reached the wedding hall. Interestingly, their engagement (Roka) took place when he was out on bail from jail. Recalling their meetings, he said that my first meeting with Bhuvaneshwari was in a school. Where Sreesanth I had gone as the chief guest. At that time Bhuvaneshwari was studying in 10th class. The second meeting took place the very next day at a cricket field. The third meeting took place in 2010 (three years later) at a poolside, where his uncle and security personnel were also present. The fourth meeting took place in Indore. The fifth meeting was one of the most special meetings of my life. Sreesanth told, ‘This was our roka (pre-wedding ceremony), which happened when I actually came out on bail.’

There is a danger of becoming disabled, yet the family does not leave them.
Before the 2013 controversy, in 2012, Sreesanth was suffering from a serious physical problem. He had undergone surgery on his big toe and was on a wheelchair. Doctors told him that he had ‘bone marrow edema’. It was such a nerve-ending surgery that he was likely to become 17 percent disabled. In this situation, Sreesanth had told Bhuvaneshwari’s mother that he could not get married right now because he himself did not know whether he would ever be able to play cricket again or not. But despite this the decision of Bhuvaneshwari and her family did not change. Expressing gratitude towards his wife’s family, Sreesanth said, ‘Despite whatever happened during that period, they did not back down and stuck to the decision of marriage. Bhuvaneshwari was one of the main reasons due to which I could get bail.

The struggle and return of a champion
S Sreesanth has been a part of India’s two biggest historic victories. He was a key member of the winning teams of the first ICC World T20 in 2007 and the 2011 ODI World Cup under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. There was a long legal struggle in his life after the stain of spot-fixing. Ultimately, after the intervention of the Supreme Court, the BCCI reduced his lifetime ban to seven years, which ended in September 2020. After this, Sreesanth also made a comeback with the Kerala team in domestic cricket. Ultimately, in March 2022, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. This story of Sreesanth is not just about games and controversies, but it is an example of true love and loyalty, which not only saved a broken man from disintegration, but also gave him the courage to live with his head held high in front of the society.