Born: 08 February 1963, Hyderabad
Major Teams: India, Derbyshire, Hyderabad.
Known As: Mohammad Azharuddin
Pronounced: Mohammad Azharuddin
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Medium
Test Debut: India v England at Calcutta, 3rd Test, 1984/85
Latest Test: India v Sri Lanka at Mumbai, 3rd Test, 1997/98
ODI Debut: India v England at Bangalore, 3rd ODI, 1984/85
Latest ODI: India v Pakistan at Dhaka, Silver Jubilee Independence Cup, 1997/98
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1991
TESTS(including 03/12/1997) M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St Batting 88 127 7 5386 199 44.88 19 18 95 - O M R W Ave Best 5 10 SR Econ Bowling 2.1 0 16 0 - - - - - 7.38 ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS (including 16/01/1998) M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St Batting 272 251 48 7715 111* 38.00 5 47 124 - O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR Econ Bowling 92 1 479 12 39.91 3-19 - - 46.0 5.20
India's ``winningest`` captain in both Tests and One-day internationals started his career in 1984-85 in a spectacular fashion, setting a world record by scoring a century in each of his first three Tests. A dashing, wristy and elegant Hyderabad batsman, Azharuddin for many years has formed the backbone of the Indian middle order batting. His wristy flicks, glances and drives are a veritable feast for the eye, and once in the groove he can be utterly unstoppable. He is an outstanding player of spin and medium-pace bowling, although in the past questions have been raised about his abilities when the ball is banged in short at great speeds. He is also a top class fielder, possessing a safe pair of hands which pull off spectacular catches, tremendous pieces of ground fielding, and many a run outs with his trademark flick-of-the-wrist returns from gully and backward point. He bowled occasional brisk offspinners in one-day cricket until a back strain After losing the Indian captaincy in 1997, then unaccountably dropped from the national team, he returned to provide experience and class to a young and talented middle order and eventually was reinstated as captain in early 1998.
