Before Mohammad Azharuddin, these four cricketers also became ministers, playing a strong innings on the political pitch. London Journal

Former Indian captain and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin is going to start his new innings as a minister. He has been made a Cabinet Minister in the Telangana Government. Azharuddin joined Congress in 2009. He has also been an MP from Moradabad constituency once. Azharuddin is not the first cricketer to be sworn in as a minister. Many cricketers have become ministers before this.

Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu was elected as MLA from East Amritsar constituency in Punjab in 2017. He was then appointed Minister of Tourism and Local Bodies in the Amarinder Singh government in Punjab. However, he was stripped of his ministerial post in 2019.

Former Team India cricketer Chetan Chauhan was a two-time BJP MP and was once elected as an MLA from Nauganwa assembly constituency in Amroha district. When the BJP formed the government in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, Chetan Chauhan was appointed as a cabinet minister. He died on July 16, 2020 during the Kovid-19 pandemic.

Former Indian team player Manoj Tiwari started his political career in 2021 with All India Trinamool Congress. In the same year, he won the Bengal Legislative Assembly election representing the Shibpur constituency. Subsequently, Tiwari was appointed Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs in the Mamata Banerjee government.

All-rounder Lakshmi Ratan Shukla, who played for Team India, entered politics after retiring from cricket. He became an MLA from North Howrah constituency in the 2016 Bengal Assembly elections. When Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister of Bengal for the second time, Lakshmi Ratan Shukla was appointed as the Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports.

Many other cricketers have also tried their luck in politics. Gautam Gambhir, the current head coach of the Indian team, was elected as an MP from East Delhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Yusuf Pathan and Kirti Azad have also entered politics. Sachin Tendulkar was a Member of Parliament of the Rajya Sabha by presidential nomination from 2012 to 2018 (PC : PTI / GETTY / X)