Bestselling Autobiographies By India’s Finest Sports Stars

Price: Rs 670

How can this list begin without the autobiography of the ‘God of Cricket’ in the top spot? ‘Playing it My Way’ tells the tale of Sachin Tendulkar’s journey as a young boy who was introduced by his brother to the game he would forever change the face of, to the legend that lives in the hearts of millions of Indians today. It chronicles how he blazed his way from one century to the next, breaking one record after the other, to become a shining star in the world of cricket. There wasn’t a dry eye in the nation when, on 2013, the Little Master hung up his boots for the last time. This book gives Sachin fans a chance to relive the magic that once was. 

Price: Rs 215

Milka Singh, better known as the ‘Flying Sikh’ is a name that is synonymous with running in India. His autobiography tells the tale of how Milka witnessed most of his family being killed in the violence that followed the India-Pakistan partition, and how he spent his formative years living in a refugee camp in Purana Quila with his sister. Under his brother’s persuasion, he applied for a post in the Indian Army, which he got four attempts later. The book veers into how Singh was introduced to athletics during his posting at Secundrabad and discovered his true calling, which earned him a gold medal at the commonwealth games, and a part in several Olympic games. 

Price: Rs 255

Yuvraj Singh was cricket’s most eligible bachelor who had women going weak in the knees. His prowess in the game, including the victory of the 2011 ICC World Cup, made him a true contender, until misfortune truck the young cricketer when he was diagnosed with cancer. ‘The Test Of My Life: From Cricket To Cancer And Back’ is an inspirational and heart-warming true story of Singh’s battle with the disease that made his life and career come to a stand-still and his ability to overcome the most traumatic phases of his life. 

Price: Rs 135

‘Unbreakable: An Autobiography’ is the life story of Mary Kom, five-time winner of the World Boxing Championship. The book chronicles Kom’s journey from being born into a family of landless agricultural labourers in Manipur to becoming one of the best female boxers in the world. Mary’s childhood of hard labour and her strong background of athleticism prepared her for the arduous training and difficult journey that was ahead of her. Her aim was not for fame and fortune, but to lift her family out of poverty and give them a better life. The book talks about the hurdles she faced not only as a woman in the largely male dominated world of boxing, but also as a North-easterner. She had the last laugh of course, the day she won the bronze medal at the Olympics, emerging a true winner.

Price: Rs 149

Saina Nehwal’s success in the field of international badminton is a well-documented fact. In ‘Playing to Win’, the 2012 London Olympics bronze medal winner takes the reader off the badminton court nad into the life of a young 22-year old girl who loves the simpler things in life. The book provides an insight into Nehwal’s rigorous training, fitness regime and disciplines diet and on how she has had to make certain personal sacrifices, like give up on partying, to make her professional dreams come true. Currently ranking No. 5 in the Badminton World Federation, the book chronicles Saina Nehwal’s persistence and self-belief.

Price: Rs 224

‘A Shot at History’ is the autobiography of Indian Olympic Gold medalist Abhinav Bindra. It tells the tale of Bindra's journey to becoming the first Indian to strike world championship gold and the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold. His story documents one man’s search for perfection and his downright refusal to accept anything short of that. 

Price: Rs 181

‘Sunny Days’ is the captivating true story of Sunil Gavaskar, one of India’s greatest batsmen, whose astounding feats on the field have broken many records and set impossible targets for the younger lot to achieve. It tells the tale of a man who became a legend in his own lifetime. The book resonates Gavaskar’s fluent casualness and the self-effacing modesty that has come to be synonymous with the man. 

Price: Rs 399

‘Straight from the Heart’ is the autobiographical inspirational account of Kapil Dev Nikhanj, also known as the ‘Haryana Hurricane’. His first tryst with the game began in 1975, when he was just two months away from his 17th birthday, and he didn’t stop there. The book talks about how this son of the soil won the hearts of the Indian masses with his true grit, flair and adventurous spirit.