Not many cricketers after hanging their boots went on to become popular politicians of the nation. From Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi to Gautam Gambhir, there have been many Indian cricketers who turned into politicians after hanging their cricketing boots.
Here, in this article, we bring you a list of 7 Indian cricketers who turned into politicians. Have a look:
1. Gautam Gambhir:
The world cup hero, Gautam Gambhir, is one of the best cricketers to have played for the Indian Cricket team. He played an important role in the success of team India during the ICC World Cup of 2007 and 2011.
Just like his glorious cricketing career, he is rocking as a politician as well. Gautam Gambhir joined BJP on March 22 ahead of the Lol Sabha elections in 2019. Soon he was inducted into the Delhi cadre of the BJP, Gambhir pledged to live up to party’s expectations.
2.. Navjot Singh Sidhu:
Navjot Singh Sidhu, the former Indian cricketer is regarded as one of the best bowlers of his time. He first won on a BJP ticket from the Amritsar seat in the Indian general elections in the year 2004. However, because of a court case against him, he had to call it quits. But he then stood one more time after the ruling stayed. He won a by-election with a good majority. Later, in the 2019 general elections, Navjot Singh Sidhu defeated Om Prakash Soni of INC by 6858 votes.
In 2014, when he wasn’t nominated in the general elections, Navjot Singh Sidhu had expressed his disappointment Rover the same. He had said:
“Amritsar is the place where my work and action speaks for itself. Since I started contesting elections from this holy place, I have promised myself never to abandon this place. Either, I will contest from Amritsar, or else I won’t contest elections,”
Later in the year 2016, Sidhu was sworn in as a member of Rajya Sabha, however, he resigned from the same later that year.
In 2017, Sidhu finally joined INC and contested from Amritsar East in the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections, where he won the elections by 42,809 votes.
3. Vinod Kambli:
Vinod Kambli is regarded as one of the legends of Indian cricket. He proved himself as a viable attacking middle-order batsman for team India. However, besides his glorious cricketing career, Vinod Kambli also tried his hands in politics.
Vinod Kambli joined them Lol Bharti Party and was even roped in as the vice-president of the party. Kambli contested the 2009 General assembly election from Vikhroli, Mumbai as a Look Bharti Party candidate, however, he lost the election.
4. Mohammad kaif:
Mohammad Kaif’s contribution to Indian cricket has been huge. He is regarded as one of the finest fielders to have ever played for the Indian cricket team. Talking about his political career, Mohammad Kaif had joined INC and even contested in 2014’s Loksabha Elections from Phulpur in UP however he lost the elections to Keshav Prasad Maurya of the BJP.
5. Mohammad Azharuddin:
Mohammad Azharuddin had a controversial cricketing career, owning to the infamous match-fixing scandal in 2000 soon after he was banned by the BCCI for life.
Later, Azhar tried his hands in politics. He joined INC on 19the February 2009 and even won the elections from UP’s Moradabad to become the Member of Parliament of India. Currently, he holds the position of Working President of the Telangana Congress Committee.
6. Kirti Azad:
Kirti Azad was a part of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad, however, his political career was more effective than his cricketing career.
Following the footsteps of his father Bhagwat Jha Azam, who was the Chief Minister of Bihar, Kirti Azad entered was elected to Parliament on a BJP ticket from Darbhanga, Bihar. In 2014, he had successfully won the Lok Sabha Elections from Darbhanga but he was suspended from his position after he directly targeted the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over alleged irregularities and corruption. Later he joined INC in 2019.
He is currently serving his third term in the Lol Sabha.
7. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi:
The former Indian skipper, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi is regarded as one of India’s greatest skippers. Besides being one of the best skippers, he was also hailed as the ‘best fielder in the world.
Talking about his political career, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi contested in general elections from Bhopal under INC in 1991 but lost it. Earlier, in 1971, he lost elections while contesting for Vishal Haryana party headed by Rao Virender Singh.
