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From Batting, Bowling To Balloting: Cricketers Who Switched To Politics - In Pics

New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu made his entry into politics on Thursday. He joined the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh, at the chief minister’s residence. He joined the party in the presence of Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

Rayudu is not the only cricketer who has switched to politics after leaving the game. There is a long list of players who have done so, not only from India, but also from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Here are some of the cricketers who have joined politics and their achievements:

Zee Media Bureau|

Updated:Dec 28, 2023, 11:34 PM IST

1/10

2/10

Mohammad Azharuddin

The former Indian cricketer contested the Lok Sabha election from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh on a Congress ticket in 2009 and won. He was also the executive president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee in 2018.

3/10

Sachin Tendulkar

The legendary batsman was a Rajya Sabha member in India. However, he never got involved in active politics. He also had a low attendance record in the parliament.

4/10

Harbhajan Singh

The former Indian off-spinner also quit cricket and joined politics. He joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the ruling party in Punjab, and was nominated for the Rajya Sabha.

5/10

Gautam Gambhir

The former opener, who was part of the Indian team that won the T20 and ODI World Cups, is a Lok Sabha member in India. He represents the East Delhi constituency in the parliament.

6/10

Navjot Singh Sidhu

The former Indian cricketer joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2004 and contested the Lok Sabha election from Amritsar. He won the election and remained on the seat till 2014. He was nominated for the Rajya Sabha from Punjab in 2016, but he resigned from the post and left the party the same year. He joined the Congress in 2017 and was elected to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha from Amritsar East. He also became a minister in Punjab. s

7/10

Arjuna Ranatunga

The former Sri Lanka captain, who guided his team to the 1996 ODI World Cup triumph, was also a parliament member in Sri Lanka.

8/10

Mashrafe Mortaza

The former Bangladesh cricketer also stepped onto the political pitch. He is currently a parliament member in Bangladesh.

9/10

Kirti Azad

The former Indian cricketer was a Lok Sabha member for 15 years. He represented various parties in the parliament. His father Bhagwat Azad was a chief minister of Bihar.

10/10

Imran Khan

The former Pakistan captain, who led his team to the 1992 World Cup victory, formed his own party called Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He also became the prime minister of Pakistan.