Former Indian cricketer, politician, commentator and reality show judge Navjot Singh Sidhu has disclosed that his original dream was to join the military, not cricket.

In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Sidhu shared that he had always wanted to enlist in the army and had successfully passed the Indian Military Academy (IMA) exam on his first attempt.

However, just before he was set to join, his father intervened, saying “Don’t go…. I can’t live without you”. This moment led Sidhu to forfeit his military dreams in favour of pursuing cricket.

Sidhu’s cricketing journey was fraught with challenges. After being selected for the Indian team, he faced sudden exclusion, prompting a major newspaper to label him “Navjot Singh Sidhu: The Stroke-less Wonder.”

This headline was particularly painful for him and his father, as Sidhu recalled, “That was the first time I saw my father crying. I was stunned.”

Rather than succumbing to disappointment, Sidhu transformed it into motivation. He committed to making his father proud and adopted a rigorous, military-style training regimen, rising at 3am, preparing pitches, and practicing relentlessly, even enduring injuries to his hands.

In 1987, his dedication paid off when he was chosen for the World Cup squad, where he made headlines by hitting five sixes in his debut match against Australia.

He followed this with six sixes against New Zealand, setting a record of 11 sixes in just two matches, along with five consecutive half-centuries that stood as a world record for years.

Sidhu remarked, “Nothing in life is easy. Everything demands blood, sweat, and tears.” He now aims to use his experiences to inspire others as a judge on India’s Got Talent Season 11, where he will evaluate and encourage young talent.

Reflecting on his diverse journey through politics, cricket, and now reality TV, Sidhu noted, “The real life begins when you are busy making other plans. Politics was never my profession; it was a mission. This new journey is another part of that continuum.”

As he joins Malaika Arora and Shaan on the judging panel of India’s Got Talent, Sidhu is poised to make another impactful impression, adding yet another notable chapter to his multifaceted career.