For cricket lovers Mohammad Azharuddin is the captain who gave a handful of great innings to be remembered forever. The best technical batsman India has ever seen. One hundred percent perfection in technique. Azhar’s ‘wristwork’ made him a different kind of cricketer. At the peak of controversies in the latter part of his career. In the meantime, the discomforts and rhythms in the family life disrupted even the cricket career. After quitting cricket, he donned the coat of a politician. He became an MP and became a Congress leader. Azhar is now at the helm of Congress in Telangana. And President of Hyderabad Cricket Association.
∙ Centuries in first 3 Tests
This Hyderabadi has won applause from the crowd with his unbelievable strokes. He announced his arrival to the world by scoring centuries in the first three Test matches of his career in cricket history. This record remains unchanged even after four decades.
He has led Hyderabad and Southern region in first class cricket. He played in 99 Tests in his 15-year cricket career. Azhar is the only cricketer to retire in 99 Tests. 6215 runs and 22 centuries were born from this. 9378 runs from 334 ODIs. Azhar is one of the players who has taken more catches in an innings in Tests. Caught in the most controversial betting scandal in the history of cricket, the cricketer was thrown out of the world.
Azhar is a person who has set many records in his own name in ODIs and Tests. He is the first player in the world to play 300 ODIs. He once held the records of most runs, most catches and most not outs in ODIs. The country honored him with Arjuna Award in 1986 and Padma Shri in 1988. Wisden’s Cricketer of the Year Award in 1991. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, he won from Moradabad in UP by more than a quarter lakh votes. But in 2014, it suffered a huge defeat.
∙ Great debut
Azhar became a part of cricket by scoring a century each in the first three Tests on his debut. A great feat that no player in the world can claim till date in the history of cricket. Azharuddin made his debut during England’s tour of India in 1984–85. Azhar made his debut in the third Test of the series. 31 December 1984. Venue: Kolkata Eden Gardens. Azhar was also included in the Indian team led by Sunil Gavaskar.
Azhar did not disappoint Indian cricket when he came in to bat at number five. Azhar and Ravi Shastri gave life to the Indian innings which was 4/127. Azhar scored 110 runs from 332 balls from the crease in 443 minutes. Azhar then smashed the next Tests in Chennai and Kanpur. Azhar’s scores in the innings at Chennai were as follows: 48, 105. He repeated the century feat in the next Test at Kanpur – 122 not out, 54 not out. A century in the first three Tests on debut is still a record. An achievement unmatched in world cricket. Azhar’s feat in the debut series can be summed up like this. 439 runs from three Tests, three centuries, one half-century, highest score – 122, average – 109.75. Sunil Gavaskar then described Azhar as – ‘God’s gift to Indian cricket’.
∙ The hero
There is no doubt that Mohammad Azharuddin is the captain who took Team India to a different level. He became the Indian captain for the first time in 1990. He is credited with leading India in a different way than the traditional way. Azhar was lucky enough to lead India twice. He was the Indian captain in 47 Tests and 174 ODIs. He has led India in the most number of World Cups – three (1992, 96, 99). Azhar is the first captain to win more than 10 Tests for India.
Azharuddin is the captain who has won the most ODI titles for India. India has won 10 titles under Azhar’s leadership. Two Asia Cups (1991, 1995), Hero Cup (1993), Singer Cup (1994), Wills Tri-Rashtra Series (1994), Independence Cup (1998), Coca-Cola Cup (1998), Coca-Cola Series (1998), Singer Akai Cup (1998) and Coca Cola Champions Cup (1998). He once held the distinction of captaining India in the most ODIs (174 matches) and most wins (89). Azharuddin is also the longest-tenured Indian skipper.
∙ 9, 99, 199
Azhar is the only cricketer in the world who had to end his cricket career in 99 Tests. The unlucky number 9 has always haunted Azhar. Highest score in Tests 199. Not out 9 times in Tests.
∙ Betting dispute
On the brink of retirement, Azhar was banned for life by the BCCI in 2000 following a betting scandal. Then aged 37. December 5, 2000: Indian cricket fans were shocked by the news that former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma were banned for life. The ban was ordered by the BCCI after being found guilty in the cricket bribery case. Along with this, Ajay Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar and team physio Ali Irani were also banned for five years. BCCI did not listen to the demand to withdraw the ban from many quarters. Azhar played 99 Tests while facing the ban. The BCCI did not accept the demand to play one more Test and allow him to retire with dignity at the magic number of 100. The Congress party itself had asked the BCCI to withdraw the ban against Azharuddin.
The Congress leaders wanted to show mercy to Azharuddin as many other players who were accused of the same crime later returned to cricket. Raj Babbar and others approached ICC president-designate Sharad Pawar with this demand. The Indian Cricket Board’s ban on Azhar was overturned by the Andhra Pradesh High Court on 20 May 2012 after 12 years, and Ajay Sharma was acquitted by the Delhi District Court in August 2014. Azhar was 49 years old when the Andhra Pradesh High Court lifted the ban.
∙ Disrupted family life
Azharuddin’s life has gone through controversies not only on the field but also outside the world of sports. Azharuddin’s family life is like a tragedy movie. (Tony D’Souza has made the story and life of Azhar into a film. The film is titled: ‘Azhar’.).
Married to Naureen in 1987 while shining as the poster boy of Indian cricket. The relationship produced two children. But in 1996, there are few people who did not frown when he left his wife and children and married a Bollywood star named Sangeeta Bijilani. It was one of the rare cases of divorce in Indian cricket. Sangeeta also drifted apart after getting close to badminton player Jwala Gutta. He broke up with Sangeeta in 2010. The death of his son Muhammad Ayazuddin in a car accident in 2011 came as a great shock to Azhar.
But Azhar, who was left behind by the world, was supported and shadowed by the music that once filled Bollywood. Sangeeta was active in campaigning in 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Eldest son Muhammad Asaduddin has played Ranji for Goa. Asaduddin also married from a sports family. Sania Mirza’s sister is Anam Mirza.
∙ Malayali Mentor
Malayalees can also be proud of former Indian cricket captain Muhammad Azharuddin’s growth in sports. Brother K.M., a native of Pala, was Ashar’s cricket mentor during his school days. Joseph. He was a teacher and cricket coach at Hyderabad All Saints High School, where Azharuddin studied earlier. On Twitter, Brother K.M. The world came to know about this ‘Malayali connection’ last year when Azhar himself posted the picture of his visit to Joseph.
English Summary: Mohammad Azharuddin Birthday : Some facts about India’s most ‘controversial’ captain