Mohammad Azharuddin takes oath as minister in Telangana state cabinet

Senior Congress leader and former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin was sworn in as a minister in the Telangana state cabinet headed by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday, October 31. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath of office and secrecy to Azharuddin at the Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by the Chief Minister, cabinet colleagues, senior Congress leaders, State Assembly Speaker G. Prasad Kumar, government advisors, and several senior IAS and IPS officers.

"CM Revanth Reddy has always been my big supporter. My cricket debut was also on December 31, and today is October 31. It feels like destiny coming full circle," said Azharuddin to NDTV.

Born in Hyderabad on February 8, 1963, Azharuddin rose from humble beginnings to become one of India’s most elegant and accomplished cricketers before transitioning into public life. He completed his schooling at All Saints High School, Abids, and earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Nizam College.

Azharuddin made his international debut for India in 1984, scoring centuries in each of his first three Test matches against England, a record-setting start to what became a 16-year career. He went on to play 99 Test matches and 334 One Day Internationals (ODIs), earning widespread admiration for his wristy stroke play and composed leadership. In 1989, he was appointed captain of the Indian team, a role he held for many years with distinction.

In his illustrious international career, Azharuddin scored 6,215 runs in 99 Test matches at an impressive average of 45.03. Featuring in a total of 334 One Day Internationals (ODIs), he amassed 9,378 runs, showcasing remarkable consistency across formats. Overall, he registered 29 centuries and 79 half-centuries during his time with the Indian team.

Following his retirement from cricket, Azharuddin entered politics. On February 19, 2009, he joined the then ruling national party and successfully contested the Lok Sabha elections from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, the same year.