Abhishek Kapoor on his love for cricket: I always give my 200 per cent on the field

If there is one passion that continues to run parallel to acting for Abhishek Kapoor, it is cricket. Long before he faced the camera, he was on the field, picking up the sport at the age of 10 and training with the dream of representing the country. While that journey took a different turn and brought him to Mumbai to pursue acting, cricket has remained an integral part of his life.

Despite shifting careers, Abhishek never fully distanced himself from the sport. He reflects, “Cricket is very close to my heart. When I came to Mumbai, I didn’t intend to continue playing, but things unfolded differently and I eventually became part of the Actors Cricket Bash T10 League. It’s my passion and I will continue for as long as I can. It also helps in acting, whether it is discipline, determination, or dealing with success and failure. I believe everyone should take up a sport. It helps both mentally and physically.”

Looking back at his decision to step away from cricket professionally, he says, “I stepped away professionally. In hindsight, I feel I could have given it a couple more years, but it is what it is. I have no regrets. Maybe I wasn’t good enough to play for the country, and that’s okay. I’m just focused on moving forward.”

Today, Abhishek leads his team in the Cricket Bash T10 League, a responsibility he has held for the past three years, winning the tournament each year. For him, leadership is less about personal milestones and more about collective performance. He shares, “Leading an actors’ team isn’t easy, but I take it as a challenge every time. I always give my 200 percent on the field and want the team to do well rather than focusing only on personal milestones. Every year, the team changes with only a few players retained, and in a T10 format, everything happens very quickly. You have to analyse situations and adapt constantly. It’s always a learning process.”

Handling pressure on the field, especially in a high-intensity format, has been a lesson in composure. He says, “These games are very intense. Everyone is competitive and plays like a cricketer, not an actor, which makes the league even more exciting. It’s an experience that helps me stay calm. The more you play, the better you get. Like I said, I always give my 200 percent on the field.”

On the acting front, Abhishek has been steadily building his presence. “A web series is currently in post-production and should be released soon. I’m hoping for bigger and better opportunities. My last project, Vinny Ki Kitaab, did very well for the channel, and it was my first lead in a web show,” he concludes.