Kirti Azad
Encyclopedia
Kirtivardhan Bhagwat Jha Azad (born January 2, 1959, Purnea, Bihar
) is a former Indian cricket
er who played in seven Tests
and 25 ODIs from 1980 to 1986. He attended Modern School in Delhi where he was part of the school cricket team. The highlight of his career was being part of the Indian team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup
. His performance as a bowler was a key factor when India defeated England in the semi-finals.
Kirti Azad also played a memorable innings against Pakistan in 1983 at New Delhi
, in an exhibition day/night match. Pakistan batted first and made 197 runs for 3 wickets in 50 overs with Kirti Azad taking all 3 wickets. In India's reply, Kirti scored a rapid 71 not-out and steered India to a one-wicket victory. He hit seven sixes, including three consecutive sixes off Pakistani medium pacer Jalaluddin.
Kirti Azad is married to Poonam and has 2 sons. One of his sons, Surya Azad, has played age-group cricket for Delhi.
After his playing career, Kirti briefly turned to broadcasting in English for television, but initially failed to break in, where other ex-Test cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar
, Ravi Shastri
, Arun Lal
and others had succeeded. However, in recent times, Kirti has found his niche in compéring post-match television cricket chat shows in Hindi, expressing his own opinions in a forthright and sometimes controversial manner, particularly when advocating player selections.
,Ex Chief minister of Bihar
into politics and was elected to Parliament on a BJP ticket from Darbhanga
, Bihar
. He is currently serving his second term in the Lok Sabha. He was previously an MLA from Delhi's Gole Market
constituency.
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
) is a former Indian cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played in seven Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and 25 ODIs from 1980 to 1986. He attended Modern School in Delhi where he was part of the school cricket team. The highlight of his career was being part of the Indian team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup
1983 Cricket World Cup
The 1983 ICC Cricket World Cup was the third edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament. It was held from 9 June to 25 June 1983 in England and was won by India. Eight countries participated in the event. The preliminary matches were played in two groups of four teams each, and each...
. His performance as a bowler was a key factor when India defeated England in the semi-finals.
Kirti Azad also played a memorable innings against Pakistan in 1983 at New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, in an exhibition day/night match. Pakistan batted first and made 197 runs for 3 wickets in 50 overs with Kirti Azad taking all 3 wickets. In India's reply, Kirti scored a rapid 71 not-out and steered India to a one-wicket victory. He hit seven sixes, including three consecutive sixes off Pakistani medium pacer Jalaluddin.
Kirti Azad is married to Poonam and has 2 sons. One of his sons, Surya Azad, has played age-group cricket for Delhi.
After his playing career, Kirti briefly turned to broadcasting in English for television, but initially failed to break in, where other ex-Test cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Manohar "Sunny" Gavaskar is a former cricketer who played during the 1970s and 1980s for Bombay and India. Widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen in cricket history, Gavaskar set world records during his career for the most Test runs and most Test centuries scored by any...
, Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri
Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri is a former Indian cricketer and captain. He was an all–rounder who batted right-handed and bowled left arm spin. His international career started when he was 18 years old and lasted for 12 years...
, Arun Lal
Arun Lal
Jagdishlal Arun Lal is a retired Indian cricketer, and a cricket commentator....
and others had succeeded. However, in recent times, Kirti has found his niche in compéring post-match television cricket chat shows in Hindi, expressing his own opinions in a forthright and sometimes controversial manner, particularly when advocating player selections.
Politics
Later he followed his father Bhagwat Jha AzadBhagwat Jha Azad
Bhagwat Jha Azad was chief minister of Bihar in India and a member of Lok Sabha.He was chief minister from 14 Feb. 1988 to 10 March 1989.He was father of Kirti Azad, a Lok Sabha member of and a former cricketer....
,Ex Chief minister of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
into politics and was elected to Parliament on a BJP ticket from Darbhanga
Darbhanga
Darbhangā is a twin city and a municipal corporation and the capital city of the Darbhanga district and Darbhanga Division in the state of Bihar, India. It is one of the most important districts of North Bihar situated in the very heart of Mithilanchal. According to the latest 2011 census, the...
, Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. He is currently serving his second term in the Lok Sabha. He was previously an MLA from Delhi's Gole Market
Gole Market
Gole Market is a middle-class locality in the heart of New Delhi, India, that grew around the octagonal market built by Edwin Lutyens in 1921 within a traffic roundabout...
constituency.