MI’s gambit carries significant undertones of how his ceiling is now being perceived. However, none of it would have been possible without a far more personal gamble made over a decade ago. Immediately after witnessing MS Dhoni’s iconic 2011 World Cup winning six, a starry eyed, seven year old Sanjay grew obsessed with the sport. To nurture that spark, his parents, Satya and Julie, took a monumental leap of faith, uprooting their lives in Arizona to relocate to the cricket sanctuary of Bengaluru. It was a move that carried a unique set of silent sacrifices, particularly for Julie. As a Caucasian American, she spent nine years navigating the idiosyncratic and cultural complexities of life in India, all to ensure her son had the best possible chance to turn his dream into a reality.
