Hyderabad: With his swearing-in as a Cabinet minister in Telangana on Friday, former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin began a new innings in his political career.

The 62-year-old has come a long way since making a sensational and record-breaking debut with three-back-to-back centuries against England in 1984-85. He remained the first and only player to score centuries in each of his first three tests.

Born in Hyderabad on February 8, 1963, Azharuddin took to cricket during his school days at All Saints. In his own words, it was his uncle Mir Zainulabideen who made him hold the cricket bat for the first time.

“I owe it to him for introducing me to this passion of mine which shaped me and my entire life,” Azharuddin had once said.

Popular as ‘Ajju Bhai’ on the cricketing field

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