‘No one responded to marriage ad'; even felt like jumping out of moving vehicle, says former India cricketer

CHENNAI: India is a country where cricketers enjoy a massive fan following. For many years, they have often been admired by young women. As a result, stories about their relationships frequently make headlines. However, former Indian cricketer Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has revealed a contrasting personal experience, saying that even after publishing a marriage advertisement, he did not receive a response from any prospective bride’s family.

He said that during his teenage years, some people tried to portray him as an alcoholic and a drug addict, which caused him significant distress. He added that these continuous allegations damaged his career. Sivaramakrishnan, who made his debut for India at the age of 17, said that the false claims about substance abuse early in his career affected both his personal life and marriage prospects. He shared these details in an interview with a national media outlet.

Despite being an international cricketer, he said it was difficult for him to find a life partner. He recalled that even two weeks after publishing a marriage advertisement, not a single family responded. He clarified that while he had consumed beer, he had never used drugs.

Sivaramakrishnan also spoke about his mental health struggles during the COVID-19 period. "Sometimes when we were travelling in Dubai, there's no speed limit. If the vehicle went very fast, something in my mind would tell me to just open the door and jump out. Somehow, something stopped me from doing anything silly. I was down completely, and I didn’t want to see myself in the mirror. I would have a couple of drinks and go to sleep because I could not bear anything. Whenever I was awake, I thought I was going to die,” he said.