Mohammad Azharuddin (born 8 February 1963) is a former Indian cricketer and a politician. One of the most graceful batters of his time, famous for his wristy leg-side strokes and brilliant fielding, he is the only player to score centuries in each of his first three Test matches. He captained India in 47 Tests and 174 ODIs, including three World Cups. His career ended in 2000 with a life ban for match-fixing, which a court set aside in 2012. He later became a Congress MP and a minister in Telangana.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Mohammad Azharuddin |
| Born | 8 February 1963, Hyderabad, India |
| Age | 63 |
| Role | Middle-order batter (right-handed) |
| International career | 1984–2000 |
| Test record | 6,215 runs in 99 matches, 22 centuries |
| ODI record | 9,378 runs in 334 matches |
| Party | Indian National Congress |
| Education | All Saints High School; Nizam College, Hyderabad (B.Com.) |
| Honours | Arjuna Award (1986), Padma Shri (1988) |
Early Life
Azharuddin was born in Hyderabad and was guided in cricket by his maternal uncle Zainulabidin. He studied at All Saints High School and Nizam College and worked for the State Bank of India.
Cricket Career
He made 110 on Test debut against England at Calcutta on the last day of 1984, 105 in Madras and 122 in Kanpur. In 1990 he scored 121 off 111 balls at Lord’s, and in 1996 he hit a hundred off 74 balls against South Africa at Eden Gardens.
He was appointed captain in 1989 and led India at the World Cups of 1992, 1996 and 1999. Under him India were very hard to beat at home, with the spinners led by Anil Kumble, and won 14 Tests, then an Indian record. He was the first to play 300 ODIs and held the record for most ODI runs for a time. He finished on 99 Tests.
In 2000 a Central Bureau of Investigation report linked him to bookmakers, and the BCCI banned him for life in December that year. He denied wrongdoing. In November 2012 the Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that the ban was illegal and could not stand.
Politics and Administration
He joined the Congress and won the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh in 2009. He was president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association from 2019 to 2023. He lost the 2023 Telangana assembly election from Jubilee Hills and was made a minister in the state government in October 2025.
Personal Life
He has two sons from his first marriage, to Naureen; the younger, Ayazuddin, died after a motorcycle accident in 2011. He was married to the actress Sangeeta Bijlani from 1996 to 2010. A film based on his life, Azhar, was released in 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Mohammad Azharuddin born?
Mohammad Azharuddin was born on 8 February 1963 in Hyderabad, India and is 63 years old.
What is Mohammad Azharuddin’s role?
Role: Middle-order batter (right-handed).
What honours has Mohammad Azharuddin received?
Arjuna Award (1986), Padma Shri (1988).
Featured image: Mohammad Azharuddin (centre) at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, 2026. Photo by Arjun Sarkar, licensed under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
